Budget 2025: Border security gets massive 87% jump in funds
What's the story
The Union Budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 has allocated ₹2,33,211 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), ₹12,840 crore more than last year. Most of this budget—₹1,09,037.05 crore—has been earmarked for central armed police forces (CAPFs) to bolster internal security and border protection. The funding will be utilized for infrastructure upgrades, advanced weaponry acquisition, and training programs.
Border security
Significant increase in border infrastructure funding
The budget for border infrastructure witnessed a whopping 87% rise, from ₹2,794.57 crore to ₹5,237.93 crore. The increased funding is aimed at bolstering check posts and surveillance on international borders, especially considering the rise in cross-border infiltration and terror incidents in J&K. The budget also hints at a delay in the census exercise with only ₹574.80 crore allocated for related activities, due to previous postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Force funding
Paramilitary forces receive substantial budget allocation
Among paramilitary forces, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) got ₹35,147.17 crore and the Border Security Force (BSF) got ₹28,231.27 crore. The Central Industrial Security Force's (CISF) allocation is ₹16,084.83 crore; the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) ₹10,370 crore; Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) ₹10,237.28 crore; and Assam Rifles ₹8,274.29 crore. The budget document states these provisions are for meeting the administrative expenditures of CAPFs and their departmental accounting organizations.
Regional allocation
J&K and Delhi Police receive increased budget allocation
While Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated ₹11,931 crore in this budget cycle, the Delhi Police's budget has been hiked to ₹11,931.66 crore for office and residential building projects. Police infrastructure funding also saw a massive jump from ₹1,986.28 crore to ₹4,379.20 crore. Meanwhile, the modernization of forensic capabilities got a boost with a new ₹500 crore allocation as opposed to last year's ₹150 crore.
Budget reductions
Budget cuts for National Intelligence Grid and Intelligence Bureau
However, not all security agencies witnessed a budget hike. The National Intelligence Grid's budget has been slashed from ₹247.72 crore to ₹158.23 crore. Likewise, the Intelligence Bureau's funding also witnessed a slight dip from ₹3,996.21 crore to ₹3,893.35 crore. The Special Protection Group, which secures the prime minister among others, also had its budget slashed from ₹510.97 crore to ₹489 crore in this fiscal year's budget allocation.