Page 583 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

equipment. Many more such manufacturing corridors should be set
up.

Emphasis should be laid on private entry in defence production by

helping them set up their production units. Budgetary allocation for

private players can help in bringing new technology and innovation
in defence production.

The ministry should urgently address the issue of underutilisation.

Proper utilisation and allocation of the budget resources among the

armed forces will greatly increase the capabilities of our armed
forces.

The need of the hour is long-term planning for modernisation and

to supplement it with committed funding. In the 1980s, the defence

plan was supplemented with matching allocation of the resources,
resulting in the achievement of planned targets.

The policy makers have to get rid of the ‘casual’ approach in

budgetary allocations and have to be on the same page with the

armed forces requirement and its allocations.

The Shekatkar Committee has recommended a roll-on defence
budget to have enough capital expenditure available for

modernisation, as against the present practice of surrendering
unspent capital budget at the end of each financial year.

To overcome the challenge of underutilisation of the budget estimates and

ever-increasing revenue expenditure-induced stress, we need to tackle it
through structural reforms. It is now for the civil and military leadership of
this country to introspect and review the existing structures, strengths,

systems and procedures to overcome these existing formidable barriers
hindering modernisation.

24. NAXALISM