BUDGET PINCER

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE BORDER stand-off in May last year, the military burden imposed by China on India has cost the nation roughly Rs 20,766 crore. India’s armed forces have had to buy additional weapons and military hardware after China suddenly deployed its military along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) last April.

This 20 per cent increase in capital expenditure—the difference between the budgetary estimate (what the government allocated) and the revised estimate (what it actually spent)—was one