In the afterglow of Operation Sindoor, the Union Budget 2026–27 draws a firm line under New Delhi’s security doctrine — deliberate, expansive and unmistakably assertive. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, welcoming the Rs 7.85 lakh crore allocation to defence, said the outlay further strengthens the Government’s resolve of creating a robust and foolproof security system for the country.
The numbers are not modest. Over Rs 2.19 lakh crore has been set aside under the capital head for the Armed Forces; of this, Rs 1.85 lakh crore is earmarked for capital acquisition — nearly 24% higher than last year. “Enhanced Capital Acquisition budget will further enhance military capabilities,” he said, underlining modernisation as the quiet engine of preparedness.
Yet the Budget’s grammar is not written in steel alone. A 45.49% jump in allocation for the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme — Rs 12,100 crore — signals another promise. “Increased ECHS allocation is testimony to Govt’s resolve of welfare of ex-servicemen & their families,” Singh noted, framing it as both obligation and gratitude. Calling the document an “excellent” budget crafted under the Prime Minister’s guidance, the Raksha Mantri said, “The budget bolsters security-development-self reliance balance and PM Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar & Viksit Bharat.” He described it as a “Yuva Shakti–driven Budget” that seeks to “transform aspiration into achievement” and “potential into performance.”
Security, welfare, growth — braided together. In Singh’s telling, the message is clear: strength at the borders, dignity for veterans, and a march toward a Viksit Bharat that leaves few behind.
