Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has addressed concerns over India’s defence budget ahead of the upcoming Union Budget, stressing that smart spending matters as much as higher allocations. He said increased domestic defence procurement has ensured money spent on defence flows back into the economy through taxes, employment and industrial growth. Highlighting that nearly 100 percent of capital procurement orders in 2023 were placed with Indian industry, he said modernisation plans are on track if GDP growth remains strong. On security challenges, the CDS said India must stay prepared for contingencies on both northern and western borders, noting improved infrastructure, restored patrolling along the LAC, and continued military and diplomatic engagement with China.