Business · India Bureau
Defence Ministry to seek record arms modernisation budget hike for FY28
India's Defence Ministry is preparing to request a steep 35 per cent increase in modernisation funding for the fiscal year 2028, marking the largest budget uptick in over a decade. The move reflects aggressive utilisation of current allocations and an acceleration in defence procurement contracts.
LSN India ·
The Ministry of Defence is set to pursue its most ambitious arms acquisition budget expansion in at least ten years, according to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The proposed 35 per cent increase in modernisation funding for FY28 signals New Delhi's determination to accelerate its defence capabilities amid evolving regional security dynamics.
The substantial budget request comes after the Defence Ministry has exhausted existing allocations and substantially ramped up defence procurement activities in recent fiscal years. Singh indicated that the aggressive spending trajectory reflects the ministry's confidence in its ability to deploy increased resources effectively across modernisation programmes.
The budgetary push aligns with India's broader strategic objectives to upgrade military infrastructure and equipment across all three services. By securing enhanced modernisation funding, the Defence Ministry aims to address critical capability gaps and maintain technological parity with regional competitors.
The proposed hike underscores the government's prioritisation of defence spending as a key pillar of national security strategy. If approved, the FY28 budget allocation would represent a significant commitment to contemporary warfare capabilities and long-term strategic resilience.