According to the Military Balance 2018report, India’s defence budget is among the world’s top five. India took a spot in the top five by pushing the United Kingdom a step down. India is reported to have spent $ 52.5 billion on its defense in 2017. The report done by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) shows in 2016 India spent $ 51.1 billion.
In contrast the report shows UK’s defence budget dropped from $ 52.5 billion in 2016 to $ 50.7 billion in 2017.
IISS Senior Fellow for South Asia Rahul Roy Chaudhury said, “This represents a key shift in the military balance between India and the UK, with India allocating more capabilities to develop its regional resources than the UK in a global context.”
On the other hand the report shows China in the second spot with a defence budget three times more than India. In 2017 China is reported to have spent a whopping $ 150.5 billion on its defence.
Roy Chaudhury added, “Post Dokalam, India’s military balance with China continues to be significantly in China’s favour. Since 2000, China has built more submarines, destroyers, frigates and corvettes than Japan, South Korea and India combined. China will continue to dominate the region militarily and seek to challenge the US in the region as well.”
China’s Army has 600,000 more active personnel than India. The analysis also shows China has 1,200 tactical aircrafts while India has only 785.
Overall the report states China and Russia are challenging the military supremacy of the United States. Russia is on the fourth spot with a defense budget of $ 61.2 billion. The United States continues to be remain in the first spot with $ 602.8 billion as their defence budget.
