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NEW DELHI: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has proposed to increase its defence budget by 18%. The proposal comes days after India has cornered Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned of strict action against terrorism saying that the country will “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers”. He has also given complete freedom to the armed forces to decide on the “mode, targets and timing of response”.Following the attack, the two nations have engaged in sporadic exchanges of gunfire along the Line of Control with Pakistan violating the ceasefire for the 12th consecutive time on Monday night drawing India’s response.Meanwhile, another neighbour, China, has expressed support for Pakistan, its “all-weather strategic cooperative partner”, and categorically said that it understands the “legitimate security concerns and supports its efforts to uphold its sovereignty and security interests.”With Pakistan increasing its defence budget to over Rs 2.5 trillion, let’s have a look at where India stands:
Military spending
India, the world’s fifth-largest military spender at $86 billion, spends nearly nine times more than Pakistan but remains far behind China, which spends almost four times as much.Despite being a major military spender, it struggles to maximize its defence outlay, even as it faces a two-front challenge. In the 2025-26 defence budget of Rs 6.8 lakh crore ($80 billion), only about 22% is allocated for capital acquisitions of new weapons and systems, while the bulk is consumed by salaries, operating expenses for the 1.4-million-strong armed forces, and pensions for over 3.4 million ex-servicemen and defence civilians.It spends just 1.9% of its GDP on defence—below the 2.5% seen as necessary to counter threats from China and Pakistan—while lacking a strong defence-industrial base and long-term military planning. As a result, the armed forces face critical shortages across key areas, including fighter jets, submarines, helicopters, air defence systems, anti-tank missiles, and night-fighting capabilities.Also read: India 5th largest military spender; expenditure 9 times more than Pakistan
Air and naval capabilities, new procurements
India fields a fleet of around 730 combat-ready aircraft, including advanced fighters like the Rafale, compared to Pakistan’s 452 military aircraft. The Indian Navy also holds a significant edge, operating 16 destroyers, 16 frigates, and two aircraft carriers, while Pakistan’s naval forces comprise eight submarines and 10 frigates.Additionally, the Army has issued a tender for 48 launchers, 48 night-vision sights, 85 missiles, and a test station for new-generation very short-range air defence systems (VSHORADS-NG), capable of targeting enemy aircraft, drones, and helicopters within 6 km. Bids are due by May 20.
Mock drills
The central government has directed all states to conduct mock drills in response to the “new and complex threats” facing the country.Nearly 300 “civil defence districts” housing critical facilities such as nuclear plants, military bases, refineries, and hydroelectric dams will be included in mock drills featuring air-raid siren tests, civilian preparedness training for “hostile attacks”, and the clearing of bunkers and trenches.Authorities across all states will engage students, government and private sector employees, hospital staff, railway and metro officials, as well as police, paramilitary, and defence personnel in the mock drills.
Nuclear capacity
India and Pakistan both possess nuclear weapons, with India recently surpassing Pakistan in the number of warheads, now estimated at 180 compared to Pakistan’s 170. This shift highlights India’s nuclear modernization, including the deployment of MIRVs on its Agni-V missiles, which have a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers, extending their reach to targets across the region, including China.Meanwhile, China’s nuclear capabilities have been rapidly expanding, with its arsenal growing from 410 warheads in January 2023 to an estimated 500 by January 2024. This growth is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, and projections indicate that China could match the US or Russia in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) by the decade’s end. The military action has become inevitable with Pakistan continuously violating the ceasefire and attracting proportionate response from Indian Army. India has announced punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari land border, and downgrading diplomatic ties, citing cross-border links to the attack. In retaliation, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, halted trade, and conducted two missile tests—launching the 120-kilometre-range ‘Fatah series’ missile on Monday, followed by the Abdali Weapon System with a 450-kilometre range on Saturday.
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