Not even remotely true. When looking at defence budgets, say for the US, is how much the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) included in their defence budget? Nope. Considering India's military and central law enforcement agencies have separate budgets and come under separate hierarchies (MoD and MHA respectively) when assessing India's defence budget you shouldn't be adding the MHA to the defence budget, this is how you come to the 2.5% of GDP spent on defence figure but that is an entirely BS figure. As I've pointed out the actual defence outlay is 1.74% of GDP.
As for fudging the figures, this isn't China bro- this figure was said in the Indian Parliament if there was any untruth to it the opposition would have ripped the Govt of India to shreds over it. And considering the fact India spent only 1.74% of its GDP on defence was actually met with criticism of the GoI as this is a 5 decade low and the GoI is/was accused of being lax on defence modernisation the GoI have every incentive in the world to OVERSTATE how much it spends on defence not underplay it.
I'm sorry but you are wrong on all accounts, India's defence spending for 2013-14 was only 1.74% of its GDP.
Will be interesting to see what Modi will/would do if/when he becomes PM as he has said defence modernisation is a priority for him. Will we see 2% of GDP? 2.5%? 3%? @
Star Wars @
arp2041
Personally I would like to see it pegged at 2% and left at that, as the Indian GDP expands so will the defence budget. Anything above this is needless and only inviting critics citing India's poverty and blah blah blah. 2% is an adequate figure.