Special lecture by Amit Cowshish - “Analysis of India’s Defence Budget 2023”

Chandigarh, February 17, 2023: Gyan Setu Think Tank in collaboration with Department of Defence and National Security Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh organized a special lecture by Amit Cowshish - “Analysis of India’s Defence Budget 2023”. The event was held today at P. L. Anand Auditorium, Panjab University.

Amit Cowshish retired from the Indian Defence Accounts Service after serving for thirty five years. He has served as Under Secretary and later as Additional Financial Advisor & Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor (Acquisition) & Additional Secretary.

Cowshish started his presentation by describing how the defence budget is prepared. It is a three tiered process, where Defence Services prepare the budget estimate for a financial year and sent to Ministry of Defence (MOD), which is then further sent to Ministry of Finance for inclusion as part of Union Budget. Budget estimate includes expenditure for MOD (Civil), Defence Pensions, Defence Services (Revenues) and Capital out lay. It also includes expenditure for DRDO and various Ordinance factories.

According to Cowshish, a budget can be analyzed in three perspectives – Statistical, Operational and Economic. He explained how at times different perspectives are used depending on, whether the argument is in favor or in opposition of declared budget. He explained, why the common method of eyeing the budget as a percentage of total GDP of a country is not a very good way to analyze the budget.

Finally, he gave his analysis of India’s Defence Budget 2023. He explained even though the percentage of budget with respect to the GDP is less than 3% there has been increase in the budgetary estimate. There has been a significant increase in the revised estimate, where as the salary budget has seen very less increase. Interestingly, the budget for capital outlay has gone down. Mr. Cowshish explained there has always been a gap in projection and allocation of budget for Defence Services. This can be attributed to various factors which include, the overall revenue deficit of the government, lack of concrete planning for acquisition and capabilities enhancement by Defence Services as well as government’s compulsion to balance the distribution of limited revenue across all sectors like health, capital infrastructure, education etc. He emphasized the need for proper planning for efficient use and allocation for Defence Budget.

This was the second lecture organized by Gyan Setu Think Tank under the “Hero Enterprise Suraksha Samwad” lecture series. Gyan Setu Think Tank was established as university think tank in collaboration with Department of Defence and National Security Studies as a bold step to take strategic dialogue beyond Lutyens Delhi and Raisina Hill to regional centers.

The lecture was convened by Lt. Gen. K. J. Singh. Dr. Jaskaran Waraich, Chairperson of Department of Defence and National Security Studies was also present there. Apart from the students, research scholars, faculty, student officers and veterans from the region were present in the lecture.