India’s defence budget is poised for a significant ?50,000 crore increase following Operation Sindoor, sources told NDTV. This likely addition via a supplementary budget will push total defence spending beyond ?7 lakh crore for the financial year 2025–26.

The original budget, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February, had allocated ?6.81 lakh crore — already a 9.2% rise from the previous year’s ?6.22 lakh crore. This increase continues the trend since 2014, when the defence allocation stood at ?2.29 lakh crore.

The expanded allocation is expected to prioritise indigenous research and development, along with the procurement of advanced weapon systems and ammunition. The move follows India’s swift and precise response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

Operation Sindoor marked a decisive shift in India’s counterterrorism strategy. Indian forces carried out targeted airstrikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan launched drones and missiles, most of which were intercepted by India’s robust air defence network, including the Akash system and Russian-made S-400s.

India also unveiled and successfully tested Bhargavastra, a new indigenous counter-drone weapon, in Odisha. The system demonstrated effective "hard kill" capabilities using micro-rockets.

Dr Prahlada Ramarao, architect of the Akash missile system, described it as capable of intercepting agile fighter jets like the F-16, summing up its capability with the phrase: “Sara akash hamara.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has since vowed a tougher stance against Pakistan, declaring that India’s response doctrine has fundamentally changed. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh echoed the sentiment, advocating for greater self-reliance in defence production to ensure long-term national security.

India’s defence budget is poised for a significant ?50,000 crore increase following Operation Sindoor, sources told NDTV. This likely addition via a supplementary budget will push total defence spending beyond ?7 lakh crore for the financial year 2025–26.

The original budget, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February, had allocated ?6.81 lakh crore — already a 9.2% rise from the previous year’s ?6.22 lakh crore. This increase continues the trend since 2014, when the defence allocation stood at ?2.29 lakh crore.

The expanded allocation is expected to prioritise indigenous research and development, along with the procurement of advanced weapon systems and ammunition. The move follows India’s swift and precise response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

Operation Sindoor marked a decisive shift in India’s counterterrorism strategy. Indian forces carried out targeted airstrikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan launched drones and missiles, most of which were intercepted by India’s robust air defence network, including the Akash system and Russian-made S-400s.

India also unveiled and successfully tested Bhargavastra, a new indigenous counter-drone weapon, in Odisha. The system demonstrated effective "hard kill" capabilities using micro-rockets.

Dr Prahlada Ramarao, architect of the Akash missile system, described it as capable of intercepting agile fighter jets like the F-16, summing up its capability with the phrase: “Sara akash hamara.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has since vowed a tougher stance against Pakistan, declaring that India’s response doctrine has fundamentally changed. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh echoed the sentiment, advocating for greater self-reliance in defence production to ensure long-term national security.