New York Times has raised serious questions over the capability of Indian military in engaging with rivals despite the US banking on it to help keep an expanding China in check.

In an article, the newspaper said an Indian Air Force pilot ending up as prisoner in Pakistan after a dogfight with a warplane from the Pakistani Air Force has left observers dumbfounded.

India's loss of a plane to a country whose military is about half the size was significant development.

The newspaper calls the India's armed forces in alarming shape.

It quotes government estimates as saying that if intense warfare broke out tomorrow, India could supply its troops with only 10 days of ammunition.

Gaurav Gogoi, a lawmaker and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense said Indian troops lack modern equipment, but they have to conduct 21st-century military operations.

American officials tasked with strengthening the alliance with India talk about their mission with frustration.

New York Times further says that although India has a defense budget of 45 billion dollars, a majority of the money goes to salaries for its 1.2 million active duty troops, as well as pensions.

Only 14 billion dollars are used to buy new hardware.

Indian Prime Minister is currently being grilled by the opposition over a murky 8.9 billion dollars deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter planes from France.