Navy Chief Admiral Singh flags concern over decline in funds allocation to Navy

In the backdrop of China's aggressive naval expansion, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Tuesday flagged concerns over decline in the Navy's share in defence budget from 18 per cent in 2012-13 to 13 per cent in 2019-20 and sought higher allocation for his force.

In his annual press conference ahead of the Navy Day on Wednesday, Admiral Singh also said that a Chinese PLA ship was forced to retreat from India's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Andaman and Nicobar islands recently, asserting that such activities will be dealt with sternly.

Touching upon the Navy's modernisation initiative, he said the force envisages induction of three aircraft carriers so that two carrier battle groups (CBGs) are available for deployment in the Indian Ocean Region at all times.

The Navy Chief said the first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) will be fully operational by 2022 and it will have a fleet of MiG-29K aircraft.

He also said the broad contours of IAC 2, to be constructed in India as a 65,000 tons CATOBAR carrier with electric propulsion, have been formulated and the case will be processed for approval soon.

On resource allocation to the Navy, he said in the face of shortages, emphasis has been on "prioritisation, rationalistion and economy of expenditure."
The Navy Chief assured the nation that "as the primary instrument of India's maritime power, the Indian Navy will continue to play a decisive role in providing effective response across the full spectrum of challenges in our maritime domain and ensuring national prosperity."