Union Budget 2025: External Affairs Ministry gets Rs 20,516 crore, emphasis on ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy

Sources said that astatine this stage, nary allocation has been made towards EXIM slope provisioning successful MEA’s fund but whitethorn beryllium done astatine a aboriginal signifier if the request arises. This allocation of Rs 20,516.61 crore is an summation of 15.45 % successful examination to past year’s fund without the allocation towards EXIM slope provisioning, sources said.

The MEA fund has placed an accent connected India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Rs 4,320 crore — 64 per cent of the full strategy portfolio — has been earmarked for the country’s contiguous neighbours for initiatives similar ample infrastructure projects specified arsenic hydroelectric plants, powerfulness transmission lines, housing, roads, bridges and integrated check-posts.

Bhutan continues to beryllium India’s largest overseas assistance recipient, receiving Rs 2,150 crore successful 2025-26, which is an summation from past year’s fund estimation of Rs 2,068 crore. Although, this is simply a alteration from past year’s revised estimation of Rs 2,543 crore. India’s allocation for the Maldives has accrued from Rs 400 crore (budget estimate) and Rs 470 crore (revised estimate) to Rs 600 crore. Afghanistan has seen its assistance allocation alteration from past year’s fund estimation of Rs 200 crore to Rs 100 crore. But, it is an summation from Rs 50 crore of revised estimates. Afghanistan has been allocated an assistance of Rs 100 crore, which is simply a alteration from past year’s fund estimation of Rs 200 crore but an summation from Rs 50 crore of revised estimate.

Myanmar’s allocation accrued from Rs 250 crore successful the 2024-25 fund to Rs 350 crore for 2025-26. However, the assistance has decreased from past year’s revised estimation of Rs 400 crore.

India has maintained its allocation for Nepal astatine Rs 700 crore. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka saw an summation successful its assistance allocation astatine Rs 300 crore from past year’s fund estimation of Rs 245 crore.

Aid to Bangladesh remains unchanged astatine Rs 120 crore portion assistance to African nations roseate to Rs 225 crore from past year’s Rs 200 crore.

Latin America’s allocation has been reduced from past year’s Rs 90 crore to Rs 60 crore. However, the archetypal fund estimation was Rs 30 cr. The allocation for Chabahar Port successful Iran remains astatine Rs 100 crore.

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