Lok Sabha Question No. 4613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Budget Allocation for MEA
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4613 ANSWERED ON- 28/03/2025

## BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR MEA

## 4613.  SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a)   whether   the   total   budget   allocation   for   the   Ministry   of   External Affairs (MEA) for 2025-26 has been decreased by 7.3% as compared to last year's projections as per the report published in the wire.in dated 3/02/25 titled 'Foreign Aid: Who Gains, Who Loses in India's 2025-26 Budget', if so, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the current reduction in the MEA budget is likely to impact India's foreign aid commitments in South Asia, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether it is a fact that Maldives and Sri Lanka are the only South Asian countries set to receive increased foreign aid from India this year, if so, the rationale behind the same; and

(d) the details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) The total budget allocation for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for 2025-26 is Rs. 20,516.61 crore and for 2024-25 is Rs. 22,154.67 crore. The   budget   allocation   for   2024-25   includes   Rs.   4383.40   crore   for 'Payment to Exim Bank towards Guarantees invoked against Doubtful Debts'. If this amount is excluded, then the core budget of MEA for 202425 is Rs. 17,771.27 crore. Therefore, the net budget allocation of MEA for 2025-26 is approximately 15% higher than that for 2024-25.

(b&c) No.

(d) Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, regionwise and year-wise are attached at Annexure-I.

*****

## Annexure-I

(Rs. in crores)

| Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   | Details of India's foreign aid allocations for the last ten years, region-wise and year-wise   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                | 2015-16                                                                                        | 2016-17                                                                                        | 2017-18                                                                                        | 2018-19                                                                                        | 2019-20                                                                                        | 2020-21                                                                                        | 2021-22                                                                                        | 2022-23                                                                                        | 2023-24                                                                                        | 2024-25                                                                                        |
| Bangladesh                                                                                     | 250.00                                                                                         | 150.00                                                                                         | 125.00                                                                                         | 175.00                                                                                         | 175.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 300.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 120.00                                                                                         |
| Bhutan                                                                                         | 6160.20                                                                                        | 5490.00                                                                                        | 3714.13                                                                                        | 2650.00                                                                                        | 2801.79                                                                                        | 2884.65                                                                                        | 3004.95                                                                                        | 2266.24                                                                                        | 2400.58                                                                                        | 2068.56                                                                                        |
| Nepal                                                                                          | 420.00                                                                                         | 300.00                                                                                         | 375.00                                                                                         | 650.00                                                                                         | 1050.00                                                                                        | 800.00                                                                                         | 992.00                                                                                         | 750.00                                                                                         | 550.00                                                                                         | 700.00                                                                                         |
| Sri Lanka                                                                                      | 500.00                                                                                         | 230.00                                                                                         | 125.00                                                                                         | 150.00                                                                                         | 250.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 150.00                                                                                         | 245.00                                                                                         |
| Maldives                                                                                       | 183.00                                                                                         | 40.00                                                                                          | 245.00                                                                                         | 125.00                                                                                         | 576.00                                                                                         | 300.00                                                                                         | 250.00                                                                                         | 360.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         |
| Myanmar                                                                                        | 270.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 225.00                                                                                         | 280.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 300.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 600.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 250.00                                                                                         |
| Other Developing Countries                                                                     | 83.44                                                                                          | 85.62                                                                                          | 115.00                                                                                         | 115.00                                                                                         | 150.00                                                                                         | 120.00                                                                                         | 130.00                                                                                         | 150.00                                                                                         | 150.00                                                                                         | 125.00                                                                                         |
| African Countries                                                                              | 200.00                                                                                         | 290.00                                                                                         | 330.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 450.00                                                                                         | 350.00                                                                                         | 300.00                                                                                         | 250.00                                                                                         | 250.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         |
| Eurasian Countries                                                                             | 20.00                                                                                          | 20.00                                                                                          | 25.00                                                                                          | 30.00                                                                                          | 45.00                                                                                          | 45.00                                                                                          | 100.00                                                                                         | 140.00                                                                                         | 75.00                                                                                          | 20.00                                                                                          |
| Latin American Countries                                                                       | 15.00                                                                                          | 15.00                                                                                          | 20.00                                                                                          | 20.00                                                                                          | 15.00                                                                                          | 20.00                                                                                          | 40.00                                                                                          | 40.00                                                                                          | 50.00                                                                                          | 30.00                                                                                          |
| Afghanistan                                                                                    | 676.00                                                                                         | 520.00                                                                                         | 350.00                                                                                         | 325.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 400.00                                                                                         | 350.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         | 200.00                                                                                         |
| Mongolia                                                                                       | 2.50                                                                                           | 5.00                                                                                           | 5.00                                                                                           | 5.00                                                                                           | 5.00                                                                                           | 2.00                                                                                           | 2.00                                                                                           | 12.00                                                                                          | 7.00                                                                                           | 5.00                                                                                           |
| Mauritius                                                                                      | 0.00                                                                                           | 0.00                                                                                           | 350.00                                                                                         | 350.00                                                                                         | 1100.00                                                                                        | 1025.00                                                                                        | 900.00                                                                                         | 900.00                                                                                         | 460.79                                                                                         | 370.00                                                                                         |
| Seychelles                                                                                     | 0.00                                                                                           | 0.00                                                                                           | 300.00                                                                                         | 300.00                                                                                         | 100.00                                                                                         | 140.00                                                                                         | 160.00                                                                                         | 14.06                                                                                          | 10.00                                                                                          | 40.00                                                                                          |
| Indo-Pacific                                                                                   | 0.00                                                                                           | 0.00                                                                                           | 0.00                                                                                           | 0.00                                                                                           | 45.00                                                                                          | 45.00                                                                                          | 40.00                                                                                          | 50.00                                                                                          | 40.00                                                                                          | 50.00                                                                                          |