Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defense argued for the creation of a “Non-Lapsable Defense Modernization Fund – Defense Renewal Fund” for use completely for the procurement of key protection belongings at crucial instances.
In certainly one of its stories submitted Wednesday, the panel stated a draft Cabinet observe for the structure of such a fund is into account. This needs to be created “at the earliest so that procurement can be done unhampered without pursuing for funds to receive at Supplementary or Additional Grants stages”, it stated.
Regarding the general protection price range of the nation, the committee famous that the Defense Ministry should ask the Finance Ministry “not to curtail the projected amount” because it leads to “reprioritisation of schemes/actions which could find yourself compromising with the operational preparedness of the Defense Services.”
In one other report, the committee highlighted the state of protection analysis and growth. “(We) note with concern that the percentage of expenditure for Defense R&D in the overall GDP during past years has seen no growth,” it stated.
It stated in 2016-2017 the determine was simply 0.088 per cent, which slid all the way down to 0.083 per cent in 2020-2021.
“Analysing, the expenditure on R&D vis–vis total defense expenditure, it was found to be far less than other developed countries,” the report stated, and highlighted that China was spending 20 per cent and the US 12 per cent on R&D from their total protection budgets.
“The Committee are of the view that given the current international scenario, where threat perception is increasing due to the ongoing conflicts world over, it is essential to keep national security interest paramount. Therefore, the Committee recommend that adequate funding should be provided to Defense Research, so that strategic projects are taken up with full vigour.”
It additionally talked about that for the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the primary R&D physique for protection within the nation, the approved power of scientists is 7,773, however the present power is 6,965. “There is a shortfall of 808 scientists which is slightly more than 10% of sanctioned strength.”
It stated {that a} DRDO consultant knowledgeable it that the group is in technique of recruiting scientists.
It stated that in 2021-2022 in opposition to an allocation of Rs 31,250 crore, solely Rs 11,821 crore was utilized until December 31, 2021. It advisable that “serious efforts need to be made for optimal utilization of funds allocated for these research schemes and a mechanism should be developed for regular monitoring of the spending pattern on a quarterly or half-yearly basis under intimation to the Committee.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
