Fund crunch
India is among the largest weapons importer in the world, according to think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPIRI). Between 2013 -17, the country accounted for nearly 12% of all global imports of arms, SIPRI said in its report released last year. The falling rupee has only added to the difficulties imposed by the funds crunch.
Since April 1 last year, the rupee depreciated 9.4% against the US dollar.
Cowshish claimed that this may be the first time in recent years that this is happening.
“It is a very difficult position to be in. Not providing for committed liabilities didn’t happen in the past,” he said. HT couldn’t independently verify this.
“Importantly, allocation of extra funds is unlikely to go up later in the year,” he added.
Interestingly, the Indian Army is yet to get ~1,487 crore that was sanctioned for strengthening perimeter security of encampments and installations, such as the one in Uri, in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east. This amount was promised after terrorists stormed the Sunjuwan camp, the base of the 36 Brigade, last February. As many as 11 soldiers and one civilian died in the attack apart from four terrorists who stormed the camp.
Interim budget 2018-19 allocates ~3.05 lakh crore to the forces, excluding pensions. Including pensions, the number is ~4.29 lakh crore. Of the total, capital expenditure accounts for 24% and pensions 26%. lessness prevailed in Bengal.
After Biswas’ cremation on Sunday afternoon, his wife Rupali said she was confident it was a “political murder”.
The incident comes amid political tension in the state, with Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee recently holding a sit-in in Kolkata after blocking the Central Bureau of Investigation’s attempt to arrest the city’s police commissioner, Rajeev Kumar, in the Saradha chit fund case.
The Supreme Court later said the CBI should not take any “coercive action” against Kumar, but allowed his questioning by the agency in Shillong. Both Banerjee and leaders of the BJP claimed victory over the issue after the apex court’s ruling. Alliance (NDA) government has come up with a comprehensive safety net for the poor.
He explained that the poor could also count on the Ayushman Bharat for health protection, PM Jeevan Jyothi Bima Yojana, a completely free life insurance scheme, and also PM Suraksha Yojana for accidental death. “So, this is complete package of social security for the poor.”