FAQs on India's Massive 34% Hike in Military Spending

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

btw.. what difference does it make whether its 3% or 3.5%. Its not that its an audit and GoI needs to prove the numbers. India is spending what it feels is right on defence and on other programs. I would actually turn it around and ask Mr Haq to prove the co relation of reduced defence spending to poverty upliftment. btw how about spending on culture, art, cricket, R&D etc.. whats their co relation with poverty reduction..By this logic no developing country should be spending even a penny on those.. isnt it??

What we are forgetting here is the national capacity to absorb programs. I would draw a parallel to efficiency enhancement programs in a corporation. Now there can be 100 projects that would improve efficiency and hence pay for themselves in the 1st year itself. That does not mean that a company will implement all those projects in the 1st year itself. Because there is an organizational capacity to absorb change. Same principals apply here. There is only so much you can do in terms of poverty erradication per annum. And I dont think availability of money is a hindering factor for India, specially with over $250 billion in foreign reserves..

My post had nothing to do with poverty vs defence spending - I made my views on that clear in my earlier posts.

Certain people have challenged the veracity of the numbers posted by Haq, I am merely responding to those.

 

[karan.1970]

^^

fair point.. I personally think proving or disproving that is more of an intellectual exercise.

 

[ironman]

My post had nothing to do with poverty vs defence spending - I made my views on that clear in my earlier posts.

Certain people have challenged the veracity of the numbers posted by Haq, I am merely responding to those.

Unlike Pakistan, India is not hiding actual defence spending. What I stated in my previous post is Pakistan should publish more transparent data to compare with Indian defence budget hike.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OK here goes the accurate calculation of Indian defence spending
Here is the in the official publication...
Government of India : Union Budget and Economic Survey (http://indiabudget.nic.in)

The controversial omitted heads are also comes under MOD.
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe20.pdf
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe21.pdf

Total 3170+21790 = 24960

Then follows the army,navy,air force,ordnance factories,R&D and capital outlay.
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe22.pdf
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe23.pdf
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe24.pdf
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe25.pdf
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe26.pdf
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/eb/sbe27.pdf

58648+8322+14318.18+832.94+4757.67+54824 = 141702.79


And GDP at that time..
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/bh/bh1.pdf

5314300.

If we add the two above defence allocation we get 141,703+24,960 = 166,663

that is 3.13% of GDP..

 

[hindustan]

well one thing i want to say

pakistan should reduce defence spending because

they have small size force
they have to protect less amount in every field
they have invest in industry so that there ecmonomy can grow

in india case we have to protect large number of population and land and other factor

so its good if pakistan reduce its defence spending

 

[Xeric]

Those who think that why Pakistan who itself is a 'big' military spender is 'advising' india to a defence cut should understand that we are not exactly advising you, instead we are just getting worried on the plight of the indian citizens.

We are just DISCUSSING the reasons why a country among the BRICs who are the 'fast-growing developing economies' is not able to feed its poor and rank 'hungry' on the hunger index?

A country that ranks among the top ten military spenders also rank 65 (lower than Pakistan) on the World Hunger Index.

We do have our share of hungry and poor, but we dont seem to finger out loud just everyone around us!

india needs to mind its own business and 'live an let live'.

 

[saurabh]

Those who think that why Pakistan who itself is a 'big' military spender is 'advising' india to a defence cut should understand that we are not exactly advising you, instead we are just getting worried on the plight of the indian citizens.

We are just DISCUSSING the reasons why a country among the BRICs who are the 'fast-growing developing economies' is not able to feed its poor and rank 'hungry' on the hunger index?

A country that ranks among the top ten military spenders also rank 65 (lower than Pakistan) on the World Hunger Index.

We do have our share of hungry and poor, but we dont seem to finger out loud just everyone around us!

india needs to mind its own business and 'live an let live'.

Then why discuss defence spending? Discuss how much does it spends on poor and hungry. Discuss how that money is being spent. Is it not sufficient? What policies and programs are there. And so on. Lot to discuss, without the need to bring defence budget. If more money is required, GOI can spent more, without the need to cut defence budget. Problem is not talking about poor, but the intent behind it.

 

[hindustan]

Those who think that why Pakistan who itself is a 'big' military spender is 'advising' india to a defence cut should understand that we are not exactly advising you, instead we are just getting worried on the plight of the indian citizens.

We are just DISCUSSING the reasons why a country among the BRICs who are the 'fast-growing developing economies' is not able to feed its poor and rank 'hungry' on the hunger index?

A country that ranks among the top ten military spenders also rank 65 (lower than Pakistan) on the World Hunger Index.

We do have our share of hungry and poor, but we dont seem to finger out loud just everyone around us!

india needs to mind its own business and 'live an let live'.

thanks sir

its your Motivation by which we are growing

at least you accept india is growing power

what you say about pakistan progress

 

[Xeric]

Then why discuss defence spending? Discuss how much does it spends on poor and hungry. Discuss how that money is being spent. Is it not sufficient? What policies and programs are there. And so on. Lot to discuss, without the need to bring defence budget. If more money is required, GOI can spent more, without the need to cut defence budget. Problem is not talking about poor, but the intent behind it.

Unfortunately we have to bring in the 'defence' because it is this defence spending that is affecting the other head of indian budget.

We could have discussed 'indian expenditure on imports' or indian spending on education' etc etc had these been among the world leaders. Unfortunately the irony is that india ranks high on the military spenders list and that we feel is unnecessary.

Imagine if your COAS stops giving statements like 'we can fight both with China and Pakistan' (without any reason-he talked as if either of the countries are going to attack india in a matter of hours of not days), also think if india should stop dreaming about becoming the asian super power and pay more attention towards its internal plights, you must also think what if india stop bothering every other neighbor of hers and let them live in peace so that we all can coexist peacefully and prosper as once Quaid-e-Azam said that we dont think india would be having a problem with Pakistan, instead with mutual understanding and common interest and goals these both can thrives become example to the world. What if we could have an Asian Union?

But how would that happen if india would sit on Kashmir, stop our water (or flood it), feed LTTE, cook fish in Nepal, finger China now and then and so on and so forth. If indian can quit the obsessions and cut of the defence spending, may be we can see more people going to sleep with filled tummies in india!

 

[ironman]

Those who think that why Pakistan who itself is a 'big' military spender is 'advising' india to a defence cut should understand that we are not exactly advising you, instead we are just getting worried on the plight of the indian citizens.

We are just DISCUSSING the reasons why a country among the BRICs who are the 'fast-growing developing economies' is not able to feed its poor and rank 'hungry' on the hunger index?

A country that ranks among the top ten military spenders also rank 65 (lower than Pakistan) on the World Hunger Index.

We do have our share of hungry and poor, but we dont seem to finger out loud just everyone around us!

india needs to mind its own business and 'live an let live'.

Thanks for the concern and stop crocodile tears. We all know what is the purpose of the thread starter and his blog. To know what GOI is doing is simple just read the budget further... This is just sample and happy to put all if you need.

TOWARDS INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)

• Allocation under NREGS increased by 144 per cent to Rs.39,100 crore in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.
  
• To increase productivity of assets and resources under NREGA, convergence with other schemes relating to agriculture, forests, water resources, land resources, rural roads initiated. In the first stage 115 pilot districts selected for convergence.

National Food Security Act

National Food Security Act to be brought in to ensure entitlement of 25 kilo of rice or wheat per month at Rs.3 per kilo to every family living below the poverty line in rural or urban areas. Food Security Bill to be put on the website of the Department of Food and Public Distribution for public debate.

Bharat Nirman

• Allocation for Bharat Nirman increased by 45 per cent in 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09. Allocations under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) increased by 59 per cent over B.E. 2008-09 to Rs.12,000 crore in B.E. 2009-10. Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), allocation increased by 27 per cent to Rs.7,000 crore.
  
• Allocation under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) increased by 63 per cent to Rs.8,800 crore in B.E. 2009-10. Allocation of Rs.2,000 crore made for Rural Housing Fund (RHF) in National Housing Bank (NHB) to boost the resource base of NHB for refinance operations in rural housing sector.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)

New scheme Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) with an allocation of Rs.100 crore launched on pilot basis for integrated development of 1000 villages having population of scheduled castes above 50 per cent.

EMPOWERMENT OF WEAKER SECTIONS

• The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) restructured as National Rural Livelihood Mission to make it universal in application, focused in approach and time bound for poverty eradication by 2014-15. In addition to capital subsidy at enhanced rate, interest subsidy to poor households to be provided for loans uptoRs.1 lakh from banks.
  
• There are over 22 lakh Women’s Self Help Groups linked with banks. Reach of SHGs to be widened to enrol at least 50 per cent of all rural women in India as members of SHGs over the next five years.
  
• Corpus of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh to be increased from Rs.100 crore to Rs.500 crore over the next few years.

Female Literacy

National Mission for Female Literacy to be launched with focus on minorities, SC,ST and other marginalized groups with the aim to reduce level of female illiteracy by half in three years.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

All ICD Services to be extended to every child under the age of six by March, 2012.Student Loans to Weaker Sections

To enable students from economically weaker sections to access higher education,a scheme to provide full interest subsidy during the period of moratorium introduced to cover loans taken from scheduled banks to pursue any of the approved courses of study in technical and professional streams from recoganised institutions in India.

Welfare of Minorities

Plan outlay of Ministry of Minority Affairs enhanced from Rs.1,000 crore in B.E.2008-09 to Rs.1,740 crore in 2009-10 registering an increase of 74 per cent. This includes Rs.990 crore for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities,Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and pre and post matric scholarship for minorities.

Allocations made for the new schemes of National Fellowship for Students from minority community and Grants-in-aid to Central Wakf Council for computerization of records of State Wakf Boards.
! Rs.25 crore each allocated for establishing new campuses at Murshidabad in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala by Aligarh Muslim University.

Welfare of workers in the unorganized sector

Action initiated to ensure implementation of social security schemes for occupation like weavers, fishermen and women, toddy tappers, leather and handicraft workers, plantation labour, construction labour, mine workers, bidi workers and rickshaw pullers. Necessary financial allocation will be made for these schemes.

Employment Exchanges

New project for modernization of Employment Exchange in public private partnership to be launched so that a job seeker can register on line from anywhere and approach any employment exchange.

Handloom

One handloom mega cluster each in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and one powerloom mega cluster in Rajasthan to be set up. New mega clusters for carpets to be also set up in Srinagar (J&K) and Mirzapur (UP).

Health

Allocation under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) increased by Rs.2,057 crore over Interim B.E. 2009-10 of Rs.12,070 crore.

All BPL families to be covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).Allocation under RSBY increased by 40 per cent over previous allocation to Rs.350 crore in B.E. 2009-10.

http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/bh/bh1.pdf

 

[saurabh]

Unfortunately we have to bring in the 'defence' because it is this defence spending that is affecting the other head of indian budget.

This is what I am saying, it is not. Indians care more about food than guns. (You are aware of the fact that India is not completely represented by this forum)

We could have discussed 'indian expenditure on imports' or indian spending on education' etc etc had these been among the world leaders. Unfortunately the irony is that india ranks high on the military spenders list and that we feel is unnecessary.

India doesn't needs to spend more than rest of the world in this field, but just need to spend as much as it can utilize.

Imagine if your COAS stops giving statements like 'we can fight both with China and Pakistan' (without any reason-he talked as if either of the countries are going to attack india in a matter of hours of not days)

That statement was given to press. India is much transparent compared to its neighbors. And Indian believe that in case of war we may not be able to defend against China. So he was just talking about recently discussed strategy, reassuring the press. For most of the Indians it went unnoticed. I came to know about it through this forum. Most Indian dont give a damn about such things.
China, which was targeted in the statement, let it go unnoticed. Dont understand the fuss in Pakistan.

also think if india should stop dreaming about becoming the asian super power

..........

and pay more attention towards its internal plights,

You would find it hard to believe, but beyond internet forums, which very small no of people in India use, we concentrate on internal problems only!!

you must also think what if india stop bothering every other neighbor of hers and let them live in peace

You must also think what if Pakistan stop supporting terrorism, and thus bothering from India to US, live and let everyone live in peace..

so that we all can coexist peacefully and prosper as once Quaid-e-Azam said that we dont think india would be having a problem with Pakistan, instead with mutual understanding and common interest and goals these both can thrives become example to the world. What if we could have an Asian Union?

I wish that happens soon, in my own lifetime!!

But how would that happen if india would sit on Kashmir, stop our water (or flood it), feed LTTE, cook fish in Nepal, finger China now and then and so on and so forth.

But how would that happen if Pakistan would sit on "AZAAD" Kashmir, accusing India of stopping water, feed LET (and many more! besides, LTTE is dead, and we loosed a PM in fight against it!) try sending terrorist through Nepal...
(I didnt get the "finger China" comment, it is one of our biggest trade partners and India try avoid any problem with it.)



@topic now

If indian can quit the obsessions and cut of the defence spending, may be we can see more people going to sleep with filled tummies in india!

Dont know which obsessions you are talking about, we spend just 3 (some say 3.5&#37 of GDP on defence. And spend a lot of funds on poverty. Even what is spend is not properly/fully utilize and you are saying that we should cut from defence and spend more!!!

 

[Xeric]

Thanks for the concern and stop crocodile tears. We all know what is the purpose of the thread starter and his blog. To know what GOI is doing is simple just read the budget further... This is just sample and happy to put all if you need.

TOWARDS INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)

• Allocation under NREGS increased by 144 per cent to Rs.39,100 crore in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.
  
• To increase productivity of assets and resources under NREGA, convergence with other schemes relating to agriculture, forests, water resources, land resources, rural roads initiated. In the first stage 115 pilot districts selected for convergence.

National Food Security Act

National Food Security Act to be brought in to ensure entitlement of 25 kilo of rice or wheat per month at Rs.3 per kilo to every family living below the poverty line in rural or urban areas. Food Security Bill to be put on the website of the Department of Food and Public Distribution for public debate.

Bharat Nirman

• Allocation for Bharat Nirman increased by 45 per cent in 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09. Allocations under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) increased by 59 per cent over B.E. 2008-09 to Rs.12,000 crore in B.E. 2009-10. Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), allocation increased by 27 per cent to Rs.7,000 crore.
  
• Allocation under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) increased by 63 per cent to Rs.8,800 crore in B.E. 2009-10. Allocation of Rs.2,000 crore made for Rural Housing Fund (RHF) in National Housing Bank (NHB) to boost the resource base of NHB for refinance operations in rural housing sector.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)

New scheme Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) with an allocation of Rs.100 crore launched on pilot basis for integrated development of 1000 villages having population of scheduled castes above 50 per cent.

EMPOWERMENT OF WEAKER SECTIONS

• The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) restructured as National Rural Livelihood Mission to make it universal in application, focused in approach and time bound for poverty eradication by 2014-15. In addition to capital subsidy at enhanced rate, interest subsidy to poor households to be provided for loans uptoRs.1 lakh from banks.
  
• There are over 22 lakh Women’s Self Help Groups linked with banks. Reach of SHGs to be widened to enrol at least 50 per cent of all rural women in India as members of SHGs over the next five years.
  
• Corpus of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh to be increased from Rs.100 crore to Rs.500 crore over the next few years.

Female Literacy

National Mission for Female Literacy to be launched with focus on minorities, SC,ST and other marginalized groups with the aim to reduce level of female illiteracy by half in three years.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

All ICD Services to be extended to every child under the age of six by March, 2012.Student Loans to Weaker Sections

To enable students from economically weaker sections to access higher education,a scheme to provide full interest subsidy during the period of moratorium introduced to cover loans taken from scheduled banks to pursue any of the approved courses of study in technical and professional streams from recoganised institutions in India.

Welfare of Minorities

Plan outlay of Ministry of Minority Affairs enhanced from Rs.1,000 crore in B.E.2008-09 to Rs.1,740 crore in 2009-10 registering an increase of 74 per cent. This includes Rs.990 crore for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities,Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and pre and post matric scholarship for minorities.

Allocations made for the new schemes of National Fellowship for Students from minority community and Grants-in-aid to Central Wakf Council for computerization of records of State Wakf Boards.
! Rs.25 crore each allocated for establishing new campuses at Murshidabad in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala by Aligarh Muslim University.

Welfare of workers in the unorganized sector

Action initiated to ensure implementation of social security schemes for occupation like weavers, fishermen and women, toddy tappers, leather and handicraft workers, plantation labour, construction labour, mine workers, bidi workers and rickshaw pullers. Necessary financial allocation will be made for these schemes.

Employment Exchanges

New project for modernization of Employment Exchange in public private partnership to be launched so that a job seeker can register on line from anywhere and approach any employment exchange.

Handloom

One handloom mega cluster each in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and one powerloom mega cluster in Rajasthan to be set up. New mega clusters for carpets to be also set up in Srinagar (J&K) and Mirzapur (UP).

Health

Allocation under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) increased by Rs.2,057 crore over Interim B.E. 2009-10 of Rs.12,070 crore.

All BPL families to be covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).Allocation under RSBY increased by 40 per cent over previous allocation to Rs.350 crore in B.E. 2009-10.

http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2009-10/bh/bh1.pdf

This is what I am saying, it is not. Indians care more about food than guns. (You are aware of the fact that India is not completely represented by this forum)

India doesn't needs to spend more than rest of the world in this field, but just need to spend as much as it can utilize.


That statement was given to press. India is much transparent compared to its neighbors. And Indian believe that in case of war we may not be able to defend against China. So he was just talking about recently discussed strategy, reassuring the press. For most of the Indians it went unnoticed. I came to know about it through this forum. Most Indian dont give a damn about such things.
China, which was targeted in the statement, let it go unnoticed. Dont understand the fuss in Pakistan.


..........


You would find it hard to believe, but beyond internet forums, which very small no of people in India use, we concentrate on internal problems only!!


You must also think what if Pakistan stop supporting terrorism, and thus bothering from India to US, live and let everyone live in peace..



I wish that happens soon, in my own lifetime!!


But how would that happen if Pakistan would sit on "AZAAD" Kashmir, accusing India of stopping water, feed LET (and many more! besides, LTTE is dead, and we loosed a PM in fight against it!) try sending terrorist through Nepal...
(I didnt get the "finger China" comment, it is one of our biggest trade partners and India try avoid any problem with it.)



@topic now


Dont know which obsessions you are talking about, we spend just 3 (some say 3.5&#37 of GDP on defence. And spend a lot of funds on poverty. Even what is spend is not properly/fully utilize and you are saying that we should cut from defence and spend more!!!

Spend more please!


India Tops in Illiteracy and Defense Spending

I have just published on my blog, Haq's Musings, a guest post by Colonel Pavan Nair, a retired Indian Army officer, a detailed analysis of the Indian defense spending in the context of the nation's growing needs for social spending on food, education and health care. Col Nair prefaces his analysis by lamenting that "defense economics has not been a subject for serious study or debate in Indian academic or military circles. Little or no literature is available with the exception of a few books in the area of defense accounts. Economists and activists have long argued that defense related expenditure needs to be curtailed. Opinion is clearly divided between the developmental lobby and strategic thinkers who wield influence with the political leadership."

Nair then goes on to accept the challenge of defense economics in India by laying out his case with lots of data and sources, and concludes with the following:

Besides external defense, internal security and human-development form a vital part of the overall security and well-being of the nation. Is the rupee being spent wisely? The answer is in the negative both in terms of quantum and efficacy. DE has risen to unsustainable levels in the last decade primarily on account of dependence on imports and nuclearization. There is a trade-off between defense and developmental spending specifically in the area of health which becomes visible in poor human-development parameters like infant mortality rates and child malnutrition. Bangladesh is well ahead of India in these parameters. Internal security has been neglected for too long. There is a need to balance overall expenditure to meet the challenge of the emerging economic and strategic scenario. Force levels need to be reviewed. Like obsolete equipment, obsolete organizations should be dispensed with. The army has become equipment and staff oriented. It also remains manpower-intensive with too few junior officers and a large tail. The Thirteenth Finance Commission could look into aspects of internal and external security to come to a reasonable limit for both. It would also be expedient if the Commission specifies what constitutes defense spending and whether Defense Services Civil Estimates should form part of defense expenditure. DE must be capped at current levels.

I agree with Col Nair's conclusion, and would like to see similar detailed analysis of Pakistan's defense expenditures. Though the problems of poverty and hunger in Pakistan are a bit less serious than in India, Pakistan suffers from high illiteracy and low levels of human development that pose a serious threat to its future.

India has the dubious distinction of being among the top ten on two very different lists: It ranks at the top of the nations of the world with its 270 million illiterate adults, the largest in the world, as detailed by a just released UNESCO report on education; India also shows up at number four in military spending in terms of purchasing power parity, behind United States, China and Russia.

Not only is India the lowest among BRIC nations in terms of human development, India is also the only country among the top ten military spenders which, at 134 on a list of 182 nations, ranks near the bottom of the UNDP's human development rankings. Pakistan, at 141, ranks even lower than India.

India also fares badly on the 2009 World Hunger Index, ranking at 65 along with several sub-Saharan nations. Pakistan ranks at 58 on the same index.

Access to healhcare in South Asia, particularly due to the wide gender gap, presents a huge challenge, and it requires greater focus to ensure improvement in human resources. Though the life expectancy has increased to 66.2 years in Pakistan and 63.4 years in India, it is still low relative to the rest of the world. The infant mortality rate remains stubbornly high, particular in Pakistan, though it has come down down from 76 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 65 in 2009. With 320 mothers dying per 100,000 live births in Pakistan and 450 in India, the maternal mortality rate in South Asia is very high, according to UNICEF.

The reality of g rinding poverty in resurgent India was recently summed up well by a BBC commentator Soutik Biswas as follows:

A sobering thought to keep in mind though. Impressive growth figures are unlikely to stun the poor into mindless optimism about their future. India has long been used to illustrate how extensive poverty coexists with growth. It has a shabby record in pulling people out of poverty - in the last two decades the number of absolutely poor in India has declined by 17 percentage points compared to China, which brought down its absolutely poor by some 45 percentage points. The number of Indian billionaires rose from nine in 2004 to 40 in 2007, says Forbes magazine. That's higher than Japan which had 24, while France and Italy had 14 billionaires each. When one of the world's highest number of billionaires coexist with what one economist calls the world's "largest number of homeless, ill-fed illiterates", something is gravely wrong. This is what rankles many in this happy season of positive thinking.

It is time for major South Asian nations to deal with the urgent need for careful balancing of their genuine defense requirements against the need to spend to solve the very serious problems of food, education, health care and human resource development for securing the future of their peoples......
Haq's Musings: India Tops in Illiteracy and Defense Spending


'Massive' amounts may be being poured in but that aint working, are they?

What guud use is the money of it cant get the job done?

May be you require to look into the strategy to feed those poor indians who sleep at night with an empty stomach? A defence cut may be, right?!

 

[karan.1970]

Spend more please!

.....


'Massive' amounts may be being poured in but that aint working, are they?

What guud use is the money of it cant get the job done?

May be you require to look into the strategy to feed those poor indians who sleep at night with an empty stomach? A defence cut may be, right?!

Since we are spewing out numbers and %ages and ranks so putting in some more (2008-2009)for every one's benefit

1. Pop Below poverty line.. India 25%, Pak 24%
2. Inflation rate .. India 8.3%, Pak 20.3%
3. Reserves .. India $239 billion, Pak $16 Billion
4. External debt as % of GDP .. India 8%.. Pak 11%
5. INFANT MORTALITY RATE.. India 30%, Pak 65%
6. Life expectancy at birth.. India 70, Pak 64
7. Literacy rate.. India 61%, Pak 50%
8. Economy growth rate.. India 7.4%, Pak 2.7%
9 Exports.. India $174 bn, Pak $25 bn
10. Global competitiveness Index rank India 49/133 Pak 101/133


So have a look, and then why dont you focus on fixing your issues and let us focus on ours.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

@xeric

India have 33.6% illiteracy that means about >700 crore peoples are literate in india..which is greater than the combined population of US and europe..

And the target of achiveing 75% literacy by 2015 and 100% by 2020,and that is because we have a dream of becoming a superpower in 10-20 years not only in Asia but in whole world..it will be great for world to have 3 superpower in place of one...

PS:forgive me for my ignorance but the type discussion is going in this thread it should be in economic and social thread not in the defence thread,just my thought

 

[saurabh]

Spend more please!

'Massive' amounts may be being poured in but that aint working, are they?

What guud use is the money of it cant get the job done?

May be you require to look into the strategy to feed those poor indians who sleep at night with an empty stomach? A defence cut may be, right?!

I agree that something is wrong, so much money yet not appreciable progress.

But why "defence cut" ???
WHY WHY WHY WHY...

May be GOI need to rethink its strategy to feed the poor. But it doesnt means more money. It means utilizing the money more. Nair is not a better economist than MMS or Chidambaram or P Mukherjee.

If you really want to argue, show us that GOI is putting insufficient funds. The problem is lack of money and not improper use/corruption...

 

[Nemesis]

Why is Mr Haq recycling the same material over and over again on different threads? One thread should be enough.

Secondly, Mr Haq would have a point if he could prove that there is a direct correlation between defence spending and the money being spent on the poor. He can't because there isnt any correlation. India spends far more on development, education, etc, than it does on defence.