Strategic Perspectives: Defense And Foreign Policy In The Union Budget 2024-25

Press Release

Sumit Dahiphale

IMPRI’s 5th Annual Series of Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of Union Budget FY 2024-25 on 29th July 2024, a pivotal discussion exploring Union Budget 2024 and its profound implications on Defence and Foreign Policy was organised. The session revolved around themes of analysis and justification of the budget allocations to the defence ministry, Atmanirbhar Bharat and its achievement, and India’s mission of being the “Vishwa Bandhu” in global politics.

The budget panel discussion was chaired by Dr Simi Mehta, CEO & Editorial Director of IMPRI, to start she gave an overview of the budget, acknowledging that while the Ministry of External Affairs budget is slightly increased compared to last year and the Ministry of Defense budget is decreased compared to last year but the budget is still biggest comparatively other ministry.

After that, they handed it over to the Prof. Sanjukta Bhattacharya. She is a Retired Professor of International Relations, at Jadavpur University, Kolkata; Visiting Professor at IMPRI. She added that MEA was a 23% hike in this financial year’s budget due to the 21st report of the Parliamentary Commission on External Affairs Ministry 2022-23. She highlighted the defense budget where she compared the defense budget with China and Pakistan.

The main highlights are Vikasit Bharath 2047, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Vishwa bandhu and neighborhood budget is reflected in this year’s financial budget. Also focus on the African budget. Later she focused on an issue that most of part is still going to pay salaries and maintain manpower. We have to shift it towards modernizing the military. Later she focused on the issue of MEA face IFS officer shortage.

Ambassador Anil Trigunayat is a Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi and a Visiting Distinguished Fellow at IMPRI. They provide an overview of MEA grants and line of credit policy.

They mentioned that for 8 years India – the African foreign summit has not been hosted, and Prime Minister Modi’s 2018 visit to Kampala later they talked about defense diplomacy, and cultural diplomacy where they added we have to focus on Latin America, they talked about influence of China’s BRI project and at the end of the discussion they suggested to increase investment in diaspora diplomacy at all over they are happy to see increase in MEA budget and the end of opening statement Dr Simi Mehta asked them question and they also provide satisfied answer to her.

Mr. Robinder N Sachdev, President of the Imagindia Institute, New Delhi and Founder of the Lemonade Party. They highlight that our defense budget gets reduced as per GDP percentage year by year. They talk about current conflicts happening in the world, how they affect a defense budget and how India can learn from them. Later they mentioned that MEA should give some more allotment for global south countries and we should have to get a partnership with Japan to increase presence in Africa. Lastly, they highlight the connectivity and trade aspects, defense exports, cultural diplomacy, FDI, and how India can increase its economic diplomacy. Overall they provide a brief budget overview from the defense perspective.

Major Gen. (Dr) P K Chakravorty, VSM (Retd), Strategic Thinker on Security Issues and Visiting Senior Fellow at IMPRI. Talked about Agniveer, the Israel conflict, and defense exports were they added about Brahmos missile export later they highlighted the manpower issue and multi-domain warfare and lastly, they talked about pensions Most of them talked about the related defense budget and gave some of their analysis on this year’s budget.

Prof Swaran Singh, Professor and Chairperson of Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (CIPOD), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi shared their thoughts on the defense budget as well as MEA budget where they mentioned that MEA budget is not only used in foreign policy there are other ministries’ budget also contributes foreign policy. Later they talk about the line of credit and aid to other developing nations. Lastly, they provide detailed thoughts on defense pensions. They highlight the Infrastructure and border road organization and at the end of the discussion they give new direction to the discussion by including the education budget and giving brief ideas on that.

Last panelist Dr. Laxman Behera, Associate Professor at Special Centre for National Security Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi talks about is this budget sufficient to fulfill security, later they focused on an issue that India should give more budget to technology rather than manpower, talk about GDP and defense budget ratio and lastly, they key factor of the budget that is India should increase its budget to the research and development.

Lastly, the conclusion session covered where the panelist focused on pension, research and development defense export, Aatmnirbhar bharath, shortage of IFS officer staff and Agnipath scheme etc.