How is Tax revenue spent in India?

Amit Varma at India Uncut, keeps track of that here. Following are a few ways they are spent:

• On a bigger statue for Mayawati
• On foreign holidays for our esteemed judges
• On 62 sandstone elephants in Lucknow

Lockheed wins $1bn Indian order

From BBC:

The US defence firm Lockheed Martin has won an order worth about $1bn (£512m) from India for six Super Hercules C-130J military transport aircraft.

News of the deal, agreed in January, emerged during South Asia's biggest defence fair in New Delhi.

That's 4000 frigging crores!! Why the hell does India spend so much money on weapons? I know, I know its not much compared to the giant USA. Why does any country need to spend so much money on Weapons? It all feels such a waste. Can't we just get along?? :)

And Lockheed Martin, their revenue is $38 Bil. Looks somewhat low..don't ya think?

Unrelated:
Sorry for the long gap in posting. I was out sick from flu.

How Lobbying helped Indo-US deal

From Indolink: (h/t: ThinkProgress)

On the one hand, Indian-American lobbyists worked energetically to highlight the commercial potential for the U.S. nuclear industry to participate in the projected build-up of nuclear power in India. They also sponsored numerous trips to India by the American lawmakers and their staff.

And in Washington, the Indian government mounted a multi-faceted lobbying campaign, expending large sums of money -- e.g., $1.3 million on two lobbying firms -- with the aim of pushing the deal through Congress. One of the firms it hired is Barbour, Griffith, and Rogers, which is headed by Robert Blackwill -- a former U.S. ambassador
to India

[snip]

According to newspaper reports, the U.S.-India Business Council thought that American business could get a considerable portion of the $20-40 billion that India is planning to spend by 2020. It would also open the door for large-scale sale of military hardware to India. For example, Lockheed Martin could get a contract between $4 billion and $9 billion to supply 126 fighter planes India is planning to buy soon. As if on cue, the New York Times said that the Bush administration is organizing a business delegation to India this fall that is "potentially the largest such mission ever to a single country."

Allocate the Federal Budget!

Ben & Jerry's of all the political websites around has this kewl flash page where you can create your own budget (allocating federal discretionary spending) and once you are done you can compare it with how it is being done now. Its kewl as well as informative and a must visit. Please go and take a dip (pun intended).