MEA gets higher allocation in interim budget

The Ministry of External Affairs was today allocated Rs 14,130 crore for 2014-15, which is an increase of 20% compared to revised outlay of last year as more funds have been earmarked for India's overseas developmental projects.

 

The allocation is up by Rs 2,337 crore from last year's revised estimate of Rs 11,793 crore.

 

In the Union Budget, Finance Minister P Chidambaram allocated a total of Rs 8,335 crore to the External Affairs Ministry for economic cooperation and advances to foreign governments as against Rs 7038 crore last year.

 

The budgetary aid to Bangladesh has been slashed to Rs 350 crore from last year's Rs 580 crore. The assistance to Bhutan has been kept at Rs 5,050 crore as against Rs 4,109 crore in the revised allocation last year.

 

Nepal has been alloted Rs 450 crore as against Rs 380 crore last time while Rs 500 crore has been budgeted for Sri Lanka as against Rs 410 crore in revised budget last time.

 

Budgetary aid to Myanmar has also been increased from Rs 255 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 330 crore.

 

The allocation to Afghanistan has been increased to Rs 600 crore from Rs 525 crore last time.

 

Aid to African countries has also been expanded from Rs 250 crore last time to Rs 350 crore in the current budget.

 

An allocation of Rs 122 crore has been made under the head aid to 'other developing countries'.