The Union Budget 2025-2026 was presented at the Parliament on Saturday where the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was allocated a total of Rs 20,516 crore and in line with India's 'neighbourhood first' policy, Bhutan was allocated the larg⛦est share of Rs 2,150 crore. Notably, ♍the fiscal aid for Maldives saw a sharp increase this year compared to last, despite ongoing tensions with Muizzu government.
The Ministry of Externa🅰l Affairs (MEA) was allocated a total of Rs 20,516 crore as against the current fiscal's budget estimate of Rs 22,154 crore and revised estimate of Rs 25,277 crore.
According to reports this foreign aid allocated for the different countries will largely be spent toward🌌s implementation of a variety of initiatives ranging from large infrast൲ructure projects such as hydroelectric plants, power transmission lines, housing, roads, bridges, integrated check-posts, to small-scale grass-roots level community development projects as well as training and capacity building programmes.
India's Union Budget For Ministry of External Affairs | Which Country Received Largest Foreign Aid ?
The total overseas development partnership portfolio for 2025-26 has been pegged at Rs 6,750 crore, wh🌃ich is nearly 33 per cent of the allocation made to the ME𓄧A.
The outlay for overseas dev🃏elopment assistance is an increase of about 20 per cent over current fiscal's allocation of Rs 5,667 crore.
Interestingly, out of the total allocation under the overseas development partnership p🐎ortfolio, Rs 4,320 crore (64 per cent) has been earmarked for immediat💞e neighbours.
Bhutan - According to revised estimates for 2024-25, Bhutan was all🧜ocated an amount of Rs 2543 crore but this time, with the largest share of development aid, the Union Budget 2025-2026 allocated Rs 2,150 crore.
Maldives - Interestingly, India has increased foreign aid for Maldives this year from Rs 400 crore to Rs 600 crore, months after the new President, Mohammed Muizu's government🗹 saw tensions with India briefly since his win and his notably pro-China stance.
Afghanistan - In continuation with India's special relationship with the peo♑ple of Afghanistan, an allocation of Rs 100 crore has been made to that country. The allocation to Afghanistan at the budget estimate stage for 2024-♓25 was Rs 200 crore. But revised estimates put the figure at Rs 50 crore.
Myanmar - Myanmar's allocation rose from Rs 250 crore in the 2024ꦡ-25 budget to Rs 350 crore for 2025-26, reflecting the ongoing turmoil in the country. Ethnic armed groups ꦫhave seized large areas, including regions along India's northeastern borders.
Nepal - The 💧government alotted Rs 700 crore to Nepal this year.
Bangladesh꧙ - For the next fiscal, the allocation for Bangladesh has been pegged at💜 Rs 120 crore.
Sri Lanka - The government alotted Rs 300 crore to Sri Lanka this👍 year.
Mauritius - The government ♔alotted Rs 500 crore to Mauritius th🦹is year.
Iran - Like for 2024-25, an amount of Rs 100 crore has been set aside for the🌞 Chabahar port project. Located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Iran's southern coast, the Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade🌸 ties.
The total assistance for Latin America and Eurasia in the budget for 2025-ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ26 was pegꦦged at Rs 100 crore.
