Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 15

Three separate reports in Parliament have pointed out that the money being allocated to the armed forces and DRDO is much less than what is being projected.

The Standing Committee on Defence, headed by BJP MP Jual Oram, has said during the financial year 2020-21, the proposed allocation of DRDO is Rs 23,457 crore and the actual allocation is Rs 19,327 crore, having a shortfall of Rs 4,130. crore.

“With regard to the Budgetary requirements, the DRDO stated that keeping aside mandatory expenses for strategic schemes, pay and allowances, the amount left for research and development activities is meagre,” the report said.

The reports presented on Friday spoke about shortfall of crores of rupees for the armed forces over what was projected for new weapons, equipment and operational needs.

The committee report dealt with the demand for grants for the financial year 2020-21, beginning April 1.

The Budgetary projection of Army under revenue head has a shortfall of Rs 19,442 crore over the projected Rs 1,65,228 crore.

The MoD has submitted that pay and allowances are unqualified estimation, therefore, Budget under this head should be unqualified. The total Budgetary projection of Army (both capital and revenue) was Rs 2,15,601 crore and the allocation is short by Rs 37,353 crore.

What the report says…

• The Standing Committee on Defence, headed by BJP MP Jual Oram, has said during the financial year 2020-21, the proposed allocation of DRDO is Rs23,457 crore and actual allocation is Rs19,327 crore — a shortfall of Rs4,130 crore
• The total Budgetary projection of Army (both capital and revenue) was Rs2,15,601 crore and the allocation is short by Rs37,353 crore
• The Budgetary projection for IAF under revenue and capital head was Rs1,10,111 crore but the actual allocation is Rs73,244.57 crore — a shortfall of Rs36,866 crore