Internal security needs met

Sending a clear signal that it would be caught off-guard next time — as it was during 26/11 — the government increased spending on the Intelligence Bureau by around Rs 108 crore, reports Nandini R Iyer.

Sending a clear signal that it would be caught off-guard next time — as it was during 26/11 — the government increased spending on the Intelligence Bureau by around Rs 108 crore.

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The government also increased spending on the Special Protection Group, which protects the Prime Minister and former PMs by about Rs 50 crore

Indeed higher budgetary allocations have been made for almost all aspects of policing and civil defence. An additional amount or Rs 430 (over the Rs 1383 provided in the interim budget) has been slated for police modernisation. An extra Rs 2284 crore has been provided — above the Rs 722 crore earmarked in the interim budget — for border fencing.

“I think most of our needs were met. National security has never, even featured in such a prominent manner in the budget speech,” said a home ministry official.