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In a nation not renowned for its strategic culture or security proactiveness, any measure by the government to beef up defence preparedness or reaching out to the armed forces, and by extension to the large number of ex-servicemen (ESM), is more than welcome.
Thus, amidst the economic gloom and doom scenario being spread by the Opposition, finance minister P Chidambaram's interim budget deserves kudos for dispelling the myth of India's economy being in the doldrums. His assertion of the reduction in the fiscal deficit and of 140 million Indians having risen above the poverty line is encouraging.
It requires no great wisdom to state that defence budgets have to be based on the nation's assessment of the external and internal challenges. The government has budgeted Rs. 2.24 lakh crore for defence which amounts to a 10% increase since...