Large part of defence budget goes towards nation building: Gen Rawat

New Delhi: Stating that the large part of defence budget goes into nation building, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that the economic rise will take place if the country is secured.

His reference was in regards with many raising eyebrows over the defence budget as a burden on the state exchequer.

"There is always a concern amongst the citizenry and the people in uniform on the defence budget. In the Army Headquarters, we ordered a study on this and our preliminary reports suggest that anything between 35-37 per cent of the annual budget contributes to nation building," said Gen Rawat said at the Annual Army Seminar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) here.

On contribution of Indian Army towards nation building he said that the local produce in a particular area is purchased by troops which are giving back in kind. "We also contribute to taxes, especially income tax, in a very honest manner."

Gen Rawat also said that economic development, military modernisation and the existence of the armed forces should go hand-in-hand. "They cannot be divested from each other. Economic rise will take place if the nation is secure," he added.