NITI Aayog’s 15-year strategy for Defence

With its transformation from the erstwhile Planning Commission to NITI Aayog, whose CEO is Amitabh Kant ( see above) “the Government of India has extended the realm of deliberations beyond traditional areas to cover aspects of defence and internal security”, according to analysts. Interestingly, NITI Aayog in a meeting chaired by its vice-chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya and attended by India’s top economists, had underlined the need to not only rapidly modernise India’s military, but also considered whether the government is spending on weapons “without strategic purposes” keeping in view the “changed threat perceptions”.

A recent NITI Aayog document titled The Three Year Action Agenda: An Overview states: “The allocation towards capital expenditure in defence will increase from around Rs 95,000 crore in 2015-16 to about Rs 1,72,000 crore by 2019-20, thereby increasing

its share of total expenditure from 5.3per cent to 6.2per cent. This is for increased purchase of equipment for the armed forces, keeping in mind the security considerations for the country.” Till now, the acquisition of weapon systems and equipment for India’s armed forces are based on the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), which directs the capability desired. A parliamentary panel had recently sought a cost-benefit analysis of the LTIPP. The report of the standing committee on defence said: “The (defence) ministry feels that there is no necessity for LTIPP. Therefore the committee desire that a cost benefit analysis of LTIPP should be carried out and they be informed of the findings”.