FAQs on India's Massive 34% Hike in Military Spending

[RiazHaq]

Riaz what is definition of massive ? When your country's defense expenditure is much more in comparison of GDP.

34% increase on defense by any definition is massive.

$32 billion dollars on defense by any definition is massive in a country that is home to the world's largest population of poor, illiterate and hungry people.

Pakistan's defense expenditure is about $5.5 billion (vs $32 billion for India), including foreign defense aid. As I said in my post, it is about 3% of Pakistan's GDP. And it has never been increased year-over-year by 34%. And Pakistan's poverty and hunger is not nearly as severe as India's.

One out of every three illiterate adults in the world is an Indian, according to UNESCO.

One out of very two hungry persons in the world is an Indian, according to World Food Program.

Almost one out of two Indians lives below the poverty line of $1.25 per day.

And yet, India spends $32 billion on defense, and just increased the defense budget by 34% this year.

Here are some more recent comparative indicators in South Asia:

Poverty:

Population living under $1.25 a day - India: 41.6% Pakistan: 22.6% Source: UNDP

Underweight Children Under Five (in percent) Pakistan 38% India 46% Source: UNICEF

Life expectancy at birth (years), 2007 India: 63.4 Pakistan: 66.2 Source: HDR2009

Education:

Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000 to 2007, male Pak istan: 80% India 87% Source: UNICEF

Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000 to 2007, female Pak istan 60% India 77% Source: UNICEF

Economics:

GDP per capita (US$), 2008 Pak:$1000-1022 India $1017-1100

Child Protection:

Child marriage under 15-years ; 1998–2007*, total Pak istan - 32% India - 47% Source: UNICEF

Under-5 mortality rate per 1000 live births (2007), Value Pakistan - 90 India 72 Source: UNICEF

In spite of the grim statistics above, India is ranked the fourth biggest military spender in terms of purchasing power parity.

 

[Goodperson]

India = 3*Pakistan and its Military expense is less than Pakistans in terms of GDP, explains every thing no need to rant on poverty.

 

[RiazHaq]

India = 3*Pakistan and its Military expense is less than Pakistans in terms of GDP, explains every thing no need to rant on poverty.

Please read the post carefully. India's creative accounting makes India's budget 3% of GDP. In reality, India spends closer to 3.5% of its GDP on defense.

Here's what Col.(Retd) Pavan Nair of the Indian Army has to say about it in a recent guest post on Haq's Musings:

India's own specified limit of 3% has been observed only by excluding several items like the cost of the MoD and the expenditure on military pensions which by itself amounts to 15% of the total defense outlay. Several other items like the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI, a regular regiment of the army consisting of thirteen battalions) and the Coast Guard are also excluded. A substantial part of the cost of the nuclear arsenal and allied systems is excluded. All para-military forces including the ones directly involved in border management are excluded. The Parliamentary Committee on Defense spends most of its time on personnel matters and resolving issues of protocol between the service chiefs and the defense secretary. The Committee looks at DE but beyond stating that DE should be pegged at 3% of GDP, it has nothing substantial to contribute. Clearly, parliamentary oversight and control seems to be missing. For several years, DE in aggregate has crossed 3% of GDP.

 

[RiazHaq]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dj7hueuj-...Zual3XCUcnM/s1600-h/Top+Weapons+Importers.gif

 

[PeaceForAll]

34% increase on defense by any definition is massive.

$32 billion dollars on defense by any definition is massive in a country that is home to the world's largest population of poor, illiterate and hungry people.

Pakistan's defense expenditure is about $5.5 billion (vs $32 billion for India), including foreign defense aid. As I said in my post, it is about 3% of Pakistan's GDP. And it has never been increased year-over-year by 34%. And Pakistan's poverty and hunger is not nearly as severe as India's.

One out of every three illiterate adults in the world is an Indian, according to UNESCO.

One out of very two hungry persons in the world is an Indian, according to World Food Program.

Almost one out of two Indians lives below the poverty line of $1.25 per day.

And yet, India spends $32 billion on defense, and just increased the defense budget by 34% this year.

Here are some more recent comparative indicators in South Asia:

Poverty:

Population living under $1.25 a day - India: 41.6% Pakistan: 22.6% Source: UNDP

Underweight Children Under Five (in percent) Pakistan 38% India 46% Source: UNICEF

Life expectancy at birth (years), 2007 India: 63.4 Pakistan: 66.2 Source: HDR2009

Education:

Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000 to 2007, male Pak istan: 80% India 87% Source: UNICEF

Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000 to 2007, female Pak istan 60% India 77% Source: UNICEF

Economics:

GDP per capita (US$), 2008 Pak:$1000-1022 India $1017-1100

Child Protection:

Child marriage under 15-years ; 1998–2007*, total Pak istan - 32% India - 47% Source: UNICEF

Under-5 mortality rate per 1000 live births (2007), Value Pakistan - 90 India 72 Source: UNICEF

In spite of the grim statistics above, India is ranked the fourth biggest military spender in terms of purchasing power parity.

The reason why India spends so much on Defence, because we have so much need to do so.

 

[RiazHaq]

The reason why India spends so much on Defence, because we have so much need to do so.

You have a need to create jobs in Russia, Israel and the US by being among the largest importers of weapons from these nations?

How does this help your hungry, poor and illiterate population?

Top+Weapons+Importers.gif (image)

 

[saurabh]

Top+Weapons+Importers.gif (image)

According to your chart..
Pakistan is 1/6 of Indian population, yet 1/5 of India in total no of Illiterates. (Literacy in India higher.)

Pakistan has 1/8 of the Indian GDP, yet spend 1/4 the amount India spend on weapon imports.

The new rules in weapon procurement would allow India to reduce the flow of money outside.

Also, you cannot include pensions and salaries etc in defence spending alone. Cause this help in poverty eradication, doesn't it?!!

Still for comparison.
Pak has 1 million men in army alone (reserve + active)
India has roughly 3.25 million.
Thus Pak spends roughly 1/3 on army, despite 1/8 GDP.

 

[hero]

You have a need to create jobs in Russia, Israel and the US by being among the largest importers of weapons from these nations?

How does this help your hungry, poor and illiterate population?

Top+Weapons+Importers.gif (image)

BBC NEWS | Business | Pakistan's poor hit as food prices soar

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8338407.stm

With all these problem still pakistan wants create trouble in kasmir. India needs to defend itself. so increase in defence.

 

[RiazHaq]

According to your chart..
Pakistan is 1/6 of Indian population, yet 1/5 of India in total no of Illiterates. (Literacy in India higher.)

Pakistan has 1/8 of the Indian GDP, yet spend 1/4 the amount India spend on weapon imports.

Pakistan's GDP in not 1/8th of India's, on a per capita basis, they are both at about $1000.00.

And the chart is for 2000-2004, before India's massive spending increase of 34% in 2009, and the latest shopping spree began in the world's arms bazars.

 

[RiazHaq]

BBC NEWS | Business | Pakistan's poor hit as food prices soar

BBC NEWS | South Asia | In pictures: Feeding Pakistan's hungry

The pictures in your link show that the poor people in Karachi are being fed well, their food includes meat, veggies, daal, and rice and bread etc. etc. This is unlike the poor and hungry Indians who have no one to turn to.

"The major threat of hunger is in 33 countries including India," a recent IFRI report said, adding that rising food prices pose serious threats for malnourished people in these regions. The report calculated hunger levels for 17 major states in India, representing more than 95 percent of the population. Twelve states fall into the ‘alarming’ category and Madhya Pradesh was reported to have an ‘extremely alarming’ level of hunger. The first India State Hunger Index (Ishi) this year found that Madhya Pradesh had the most severe level of hunger in India, comparable to Chad and Ethiopia. Four states — Punjab, Kerala, Haryana and Assam — fell in the 'serious' category. "Affluent" Gujarat, 13th on the Indian list is below Haiti, ranked 69. The authors said India's poor performance was primarily due to its relatively high levels of child malnutrition and under-nourishment resulting from calorie deficient diets.

"Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh," the report says.

Haq's Musings: South Asia's War on Hunger Takes a Back Seat

 

[hero]

Pakistan's GDP in not 1/8th of India's, on a per capita basis, they are both at about $1000.00.

And the chart is for 2000-2004, before India's massive spending increase of 34% in 2009, and the latest shopping spree began in the world's arms bazars.

Again in another thread you are saying india is more poor than pakistan. Now you are saying both are same. You need to make up your mind and stick to same story.

 

[saurabh]

Pakistan's GDP in not 1/8th of India's, on a per capita basis, they are both at about $1000.00.

And the chart is for 2000-2004, before India's massive spending increase of 34% in 2009, and the latest shopping spree began in the world's arms bazars.

I am talking about total GDP, not per capita.
And if we take per capitol, still it means India can spend 8 times more cause of more "capita".

The point is, we can sustain this much, without any negative effects on country's economy. We are sustaining a 8% growth rate. Huge amount is still spent on things like education, poverty eradication etc. Defence budget doesn't effect those things.

And after Mumbai, 34% is not a figure any Indian would raise a voice against.

 

[RiazHaq]

I am talking about total GDP, not per capitol.
And if we take per capitol, still it means India can spend 8 times more cause of more "capitol".

The point is, we can sustain this much, without any negative effects on country's economy. We are sustaining a 8% growth rate. Huge amount is still spent on things like education, poverty eradication etc. Defence budget doesn't effect those things.

I think India's pop is about 7X Pakistan's, not 8X.

You are sustaining heavy defense spending on the backs of India's poor, by denying food to the hungry, health care to the sick, and opportunity for education to the illiterates. You should be increasing the budget to increase access to food, health care and education, rather than buying expensive toys for the boys in the military.

 

[RiazHaq]

And after Mumbai, 34% is not a figure any Indian would raise a voice against.

I know Mumbai is the excuse, although the cold war era stuff your military is buying is useless against the asymmetrical threat from the terrorists. But I guess the urban educated middle class in India doesn't care about such minor details.

 

[LCA Tejas]

I think India's pop is about 7X Pakistan's, not 8X.

You are sustaining heavy defense spending on the backs of India's poor, by denying food to the hungry, health care to the sick, and opportunity for education to the illiterates. You should be increasing the budget to increase access to food, health care and education, rather than buying expensive toys for the boys in the military.

So whats Your problem in it buddy, Is it affecting you.... even when u spend 7-10B$ in defense, You are leaving behind poor people and Illitracy at its peak.... Now India does not work the way Pakistan works... We dont Divert funds.... We have been Using 3% of Our GDP for AGES, Now Our economy grows and So does our defense spending and every other spending.....