India is set to sharply increase its defence budget following Operation Sindoor, a military contingency action against the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources in the government informed NDTV that the Centre may infuse another Rs 50,000 crore into the military coffers through a supplemental budget, pushing the overall allocation past Rs 7 lakh crore.
This surge will aid in key sectors like research and development, arms and ammunition purchases, and Indian defence infrastructure modernisation.
Record Defence Spend
The rise is expected after the historic spend of Rs 6.81 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February. This itself was a significant 9.2 per cent increase from the Rs 6.22 lakh crore spent in 2024-25.
Defence spending has continued to increase since the BJP government took office in 2014, from Rs 2.29 lakh crore to what is today the biggest ministerial outlay, constituting 13 per cent of the country’s budget.
Emphasis on Indigenous Capabilities and Innovation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also given a renewed thrust for self-reliance in defence, driving this fiscal largesse. Addressing after the 100-hour India-Pakistan diplomatic exchange following Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed, “If we acquire defence equipment from foreign countries, it means that we are delegating it to others and placing our security at their hands. This cannot be a long-term strategy.”
India’s home-grown Akash missile system was a principal defence weapon during the war. The system, with the ability to intercept even the highly manoeuvrable planes like Pakistan’s US-built F-16s, has once again drawn notice. Former DRDO scientist Dr Prahlada Ramarao, who developed Akash, explained its philosophy as “sara akash hamara” (the whole sky is ours).
Technological Edge and Tactical Precision
Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s cutting-edge military synergy, specifically its capacity to send air defence systems up there with Israel’s Iron Dome. The Akash system complemented Russian-made S-400s, which effectively countered a drone and missile attack wave perpetrated by Pakistan.
In another step forward in technology, India also tested the Bhargavastra—a low-budget counter-drone system that is working in “hard kill” mode. It uses micro-rockets and completed successful trials at the Seaward Firing Range in Odisha, fulfilling all operational requirements.
Operation Sindoor: A Shift in Strategy
India initiated Operation Sindoor after having used up all diplomatic avenues, such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. Indian forces targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with precision strikes, prompting a ferocious but mostly ineffective response from Pakistan.
India retaliated by destroying Pakistani radar installations and causing extensive damage to its air force bases. The demonstration of strength compelled Islamabad to seek a ceasefire.
Modi Doctrine: Redrawing the Line on Terror
Prime Minister Modi, addressing for the first time after the operation, gave a stern message to terror organisations and their patrons. “India would attack again to defend its territory and people, and Delhi’s terror doctrine had changed forever,” he stated.
He clarified that future interactions with Pakistan would not include negotiations on Kashmir unless they aimed to deconstruct terror infrastructure and address the return of illegally occupied territories.
Looking Ahead: Parliament to Decide
The government will table the additional defence budget for approval in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. With the blessings of the BJP majority, as well as growing public and political attention to national security, the proposal stands good chances of sailing through without much opposition.
India’s rising military spending is not only a reaction to existing threats but an ongoing investment in strategic autonomy, deterrence potential, and tech superiority.