Lt Gen Ulhas Kirpekar Addresses HDMC-22 on Defence Budget Planning at CDM Secunderabad
Lt Gen Ulhas Kirpekar, Director General, Financial Planning, addressed participants of Higher Defence Management Course-22 (HDMC-22) at the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, in a session focused on budget planning and monitoring at the apex level.
The interaction offered the course participants a closer look at how defence requirements are converted into financial plans within India’s military system. Drawing on themes already covered in the HDMC curriculum, Lt Gen Kirpekar explained the practical aspects of financial planning and the considerations involved in allocating resources to meet the Armed Forces’ needs.
His address centred on the Army’s wider financial roadmap and the factors that shape capital and revenue allocations. The participants were briefed on the kinds of strategic choices and assessments that guide priorities for major defence expenditure, reflecting the balance that must be struck between immediate operational demands and future capability needs.
Lt Gen Kirpekar also stressed the need for effective monitoring and careful use of financial resources. The session highlighted the direct link between financial planning and capability development, operational preparedness and the long-term modernisation requirements of the Armed Forces.
For the HDMC-22 participants, the interaction provided a clearer view of the financial decision-making process that supports defence planning at the highest levels. It also reinforced the importance of aligning short-term operational requirements with longer-term plans for capability enhancement and modernisation.
The session at CDM further reflected the institution’s role in preparing senior officers and defence professionals to engage with the broader dimensions of strategic management and national security, including the financial framework needed to sustain India’s defence capabilities.
