The parliamentary standing committee on defense chaired by Major General B C Khanduri (Retd), in two reports tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, December 19, criticized the government for neither providing adequate funds for proper military modernization, nor fast-tracking defense procurements to plug operational gaps. The reports said the Indian armed forces continue to grapple with critical operational deficiencies on several fronts ranging from submarines, fighter jets, howitzers and helicopters to even basic gear like new-generation assault rifles, machine guns, bullet-proof jackets, and helmets. Overall, the Army, Navy, and IAF just got only 60%, 67% and 54% of the funds they had sought for modernization this fiscal. The committee expressed concern over the "adverse and cascading effect that the deficiency of funds" would have on the armed forces operational preparedness. To make matters worse, the defense ministry (MoD) continues to flounder to properly plan and spend even the allocated funds. "Underutilization of funds highlights the loopholes in the planning and budgetary exercise undertaken by the MoD. Also, persistent failure to utilize the allocated funds has contributed to a reduction in the MoD's budget allocations by the finance ministry," said the panel.