In what may point to slow pace of military modernisation, the government has turned down a request from the Ministry of Defence seeking an additional Rs 39,690 crore for modernisation.The additional money was sought during the ongoing financial year 2017-2018 ending March 31, 2018.It was part of the revised estimates that ministries are asked to submit in the middle of the fiscal (around Sept-Oct). Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre, in a written reply in RS today, said “an additional amount of Rs 39690.18 crore was sought. However, no additional funds were allocated under Revised Estimate 2017-18”.He was asked by MP Bhubaneswar Kalita “whether the ministry has sought additional funds for defence modernisation in the current fiscal”. On the use of funds, the minister said these were utilised for induction of new equipment and technological upgrade of capabilities identified through a comprehensive planning process, to keep the armed forces in a state of readiness to meet various security challenges. An amount of Rs 69,405 crore was allocated for modernisation (capital acquisition) in 2017-18. Till December 31, Rs 61,002 crore was spent. — TNS