Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, paid tributes to the Kargil war heroes on Friday.
He recalled the sacrifices made by soldiers on the eve of the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas. Reddy highlighted the measures taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over the past decade to strengthen the armed forces and ensure the welfare of soldiers.
Reddy emphasized that the Modi government is continuously working to improve India’s military, weapons systems, and defense sector. Each year, the defense department receives increased funding.
The Union Minister mentioned that in 2013-14, the UPA government allocated Rs 2.5 lakh crore to the defense department. However, for the financial year 2024-25, the Modi government increased this amount to Rs 6,21,940.85 crore, which is 12 percent of the total budget.
Reddy said that the increased funding allows the defense forces to access the latest technology and weapons. It also ensures proper facilities, including clothing, shoes, shelters, and bulletproof jackets, tailored to the weather conditions where soldiers are stationed.
He noted that in 2017, India produced defense equipment worth Rs 74,054 crore, and by 2023, this amount rose to Rs 1,08,684 crore. Of the Rs 1,72,000 crore capital expenditure allocated to the defense department this financial year, Rs 1,05,518.43 crore will be used to procure arms and equipment from domestic companies.
Reddy also mentioned that Rs 518 crore has been allocated to promote start-ups in the defense sector under the ‘IDEX’ scheme. This will encourage startups, MSMEs, and innovators in the defense sector. Additionally, domestically manufactured weapons are now being exported. Between 2004-14, India exported defense products worth Rs 4,312 crore, which increased to Rs 88,319 crore during 2014-24, placing India among the top 25 countries in defense exports.
He pointed out that earlier, there were no proper road facilities for soldiers to travel across the borders. The Modi government has prioritized building roads at the borders, allowing soldiers to reach these areas more quickly. In the current budget, Rs 6,500 crore has been allocated for road construction at the borders, which is a 30 percent increase from last year. This development will continue at a faster pace.
