India’s Defence Budget Heavily Weighted To Manpower Costs

India’s defence budget for 2025-26 reflects a persistent structural imbalance, with 68.5% of the ₹6.81 lakh crore allocation consumed by manpower-related expenses (salaries, pensions, and operational costs), leaving limited funds for modernization. This comes amid calls for increased spending to counter China’s military rise and address critical equipment shortages.Key Budget BreakdownManpower
India’s defence budget for 2025-26 reflects a persistent structural imbalance, with 68.5% of the ₹6.81 lakh crore allocation consumed by manpower-related expenses (salaries, pensions, and operational costs), leaving limited funds for modernization. This comes amid calls for increased spending to counter China’s military rise and address critical equipment shortages.Key Budget BreakdownManpower
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