Has the Defence Ministry Utilized Over 50% of Its Capital Outlay by September in the Current Fiscal?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- MoD has utilized over 50% of its capital outlay for FY26 by September.
- Total capital expenditure stands at Rs 92,211.44 crore.
- The expenditure is vital for the modernization of the Armed Forces.
- Major investments are made in aircraft and aero engines.
- Capital expenditure impacts national security and economic growth.
New Delhi, Oct 13 (NationPress) The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has successfully utilized over 50 percent of its capital outlay for the current fiscal year (FY26) by the end of September. The total capital expenditure amounts to Rs 92,211.44 crore, as revealed on Monday.
Of this, the expenditure of Rs 92,211.44 crore (51.23 percent) is derived from a total allocation of Rs 1,80,000 crore.
In the previous financial year, the MoD fully utilized its capital expenditure of Rs 1,59,768.40 crore.
The achievement of exceeding 50 percent capital outlay is pivotal in facilitating the timely delivery of essential platforms, including aircraft, ships, submarines, and weapon systems, which are critical for the modernization of the Armed Forces in the upcoming year.
The majority of the expenditure has been allocated towards aircraft and aero engines, with significant investments in land systems, electronic warfare equipment, armaments, and projectiles.
Capital expenditure plays a vital role in the defense sector as it finances the acquisition of new assets, research and development, and infrastructure development in border areas—all of which are crucial to the nation’s national security. Additionally, capital expenditure generates a multiplier effect on economic growth and job creation.
“At this pace of expenditure and with larger projects nearing approval, MoD is dedicated to fully utilizing the capital allocation by the conclusion of the current fiscal year,” it stated.
Simultaneously, the Ministry is preparing budgetary projections for revised estimates. It is important to note that this fiscal year, the Ministry of Defence was allocated Rs 1,80,000 crore under the capital head during the Budget Estimates stage by the Ministry of Finance.
This allocation represents an increase of 12.66 percent compared to actual expenditures from FY 2024-25.
Since FY 2020-21, the Ministry of Defence has actively supported domestic industries by allocating funds for procurement from local sources.
For FY 2025-26, Rs 1,11,544.83 crore has been designated for the domestic industry, with significant spending of 45 percent recorded thus far from these funds.