Budget 2026: Defence Expert Flags Committed Liabilities, Calls For Battlefield Transparency

Defence expert Lt. Gen. Rakesh Sharma (Retd.) critically analysed India’s Defence Budget 2026 at the TOI Budget Dialogues, flagging concerns over rising committed liabilities and limited real growth in capital expenditure. He questioned how much of the ₹2.20 lakh crore capital allocation is already locked into past approvals, noting that large emergency procurements, Operation Sindoor costs, and Defence Acquisition Council clearances worth ₹3 lakh crore remain in the pipeline. Sharma stressed that modern conflicts demand battlefield transparency, drawing lessons from the Ukraine war where satellite intelligence proved decisive. He warned that India lacks adequate LEO satellite coverage and argued that surveillance, drone and missile defence systems must take priority over traditional platforms. He linked this need to the Prime Minister’s emphasis on building a “Sudarshan Chakra” for national security.