Defence Ministry expects 15-20% rise in budget allocation

Defence Ministry is expecting a 15 to 20 per cent increase in its budget allocation for the next fiscal due to rise in expenditure on its modernisation drive and commitments following pay review.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said he expects an increase in the budgetary allocation this fiscal from 2009-10 figure of Rs Rs 1,41,703 crore.

"Certainly we are expecting an increase because of the increase in revenue expenditure, implementation of 6th Pay Commission Report. Apart from that, there is an emphasis on modernisation and new acquisitions," he said.

Keeping this in mind, Raju said, the Ministry expects an increase in the budget, which "might be 10-15 per cent or 15-20 per cent".