Defence Budget's share in GDP down, allocation up

The share of Defence Budget as a percentage of the GDP has gone down over the last few years even as the expenditure in absolute terms has increased, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Defence Budget was 2.15 per cent of the GDP in 2015-16. It went down to 1.65 per cent of the GDP in 2016-17 and 1.54 per cent in 2017-18, according to a written reply to the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre.

However, the total Budget, including the Revenue and Capital Budget, was Rs 2,46,727 crore in 2015-16 and increased to Rs 2,49,099 crore in 2016-17 and further to Rs 2,59,261 in 2017-18.

"It may be seen from the above figures that Defence Expenditure as a percentage of the GDP may appear to be decreasing due to increasing trend in growth of GDP. However, Defence Expenditure is increasing every year in absolute terms," the Minister said.

--IANS

ao/him/mr