New Delhi, February 11: A secure India is essential for a developed India, as stated during the budget discussion in the Rajya Sabha. The ruling party emphasized that the government has demonstrated its commitment to national security through initiatives in Doklam, Galwan, Balakot, and other operations.
BJP MP Sujit Kumar from Odisha highlighted that the defense budget has been increased to ₹7.85 lakh crore, marking a 16% rise compared to the previous year. The defense budget has more than tripled since 2013-14, when it was approximately ₹2.55 lakh crore. Kumar asserted that a developed India cannot be envisioned without a secure India.
During the budget discussion, he noted that India’s defense exports have surged from just ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to nearly ₹24,000 crore today. The government aims to elevate this figure to ₹50,000 crore within the next two to three years, marking a significant achievement towards self-reliant India. The government has sent a clear message that the nation stands with its army, navy, air force, and coast guard.
Kumar described this budget as the first of the second phase of the 21st century, emphasizing that it is not merely an annual financial document but a vision roadmap for India’s development over the next 25 years. He characterized it as a purposeful budget, a philosophy-driven budget, and one dedicated to ‘duty’.
He further stated that this budget serves as a guiding document for a growing nation towards a developed India. Kumar mentioned that the finance minister has introduced a new principle of good governance, summarized in three duties: empowering public aspirations, accelerating economic growth, and ensuring ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Together with all, Development for all). He emphasized that this is a politics of duty, not merely of debt or work. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the government is focusing on duty-based nation-building.
Referencing Chanakya’s Arthashastra, he quoted, “The happiness of the ruler lies in the happiness of the subjects, and the welfare of the subjects is in the welfare of the ruler.” He stressed the importance of Raj Dharma, which protects all other duties, reflecting ancient Indian wisdom in this budget as ‘duty’.
Kumar identified education as the second pillar of development. He stated that an educated India is the engine of growth. The budget allocates approximately ₹1.40 lakh crore for education, an 8% increase from last year. This includes ₹22,000 crore for overall education, ₹7,500 crore for the PM-SHRI scheme, and ₹7,150 crore for Eklavya Model Residential Schools. Five new university townships will be established to enhance coordination between industry and academia. The proposal includes setting up 15,000 content labs in schools to position India as a leader in the digital and audience economy.
The third pillar is women’s empowerment. Kumar noted that empowering a woman strengthens a civilization. The budget emphasizes special schemes and entrepreneurship incentives for women. He also highlighted the importance of sports and youth power. This year, a significant budget allocation for sports has been made, nearly four times higher than in 2013-14. Approximately ₹1,000 crore has been allocated for the ‘Khelo India’ mission. India is striving to host the 2036 Olympics and preparing for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. These investments aim to place India among the top 10 sports nations by 2036.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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