New Delhi:

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has allocated Rs 5,483 crore for aid to foreign nations, slightly higher than last year’s Rs 4,883 crore. The overall budget for the MEA stands at Rs 20,516 crore, with aid to neighbouring and strategic countries remaining a crucial component.

The MEA budget has placed a key emphasis on India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Rs 4,320 crore – 64 per cent of the total scheme portfolio – has been earmarked for the country’s immediate neighbours for several initiatives like large infrastructure projects such as hydroelectric plants, power transmission lines, housing, roads, bridges and integrated check-posts.

Bhutan Retains Top Spot

Bhutan continues to be India’s largest foreign aid recipient, receiving Rs 2,150 crore in 2025-26. This is an increase from last year’s allocation of Rs 2,068 crore. India remains Bhutan’s primary development partner, with funding directed towards infrastructure, hydropower projects, and economic cooperation.

Maldives Boost Amid Diplomatic Reset

India’s allocation for the Maldives has increased from Rs 400 crore to Rs 600 crore. This comes at a time when Male is attempting to mend ties with New Delhi following tensions over President Mohamed Muizzu’s pro-China stance after his electoral win. 

In early 2024, India withdrew its military personnel from the Maldives. Now, with Maldivian Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon visiting India earlier this month, efforts are underway to restore cooperation. 

Afghanistan’s Aid Reduced

Afghanistan has seen its aid allocation decrease from Rs 200 crore last year to Rs 100 crore in 2025-26. This is still a sharp decline from the Rs 207 crore granted two years ago. India has been cautious in its dealings with the Taliban government, limiting its engagement to humanitarian aid and economic cooperation.

Earlier this year, senior diplomat Vikram Misri met with Taliban officials in Dubai, marking the highest-level contact since Kabul’s takeover. Discussions centred around trade and India’s interest in Iran’s Chabahar Port, which serves as a crucial alternative trade route bypassing Pakistan.

Despite these engagements, India has yet to officially recognise the Taliban government. 

Myanmar Sees Increased Aid

Myanmar’s allocation increased from Rs 250 crore in the 2024-25 budget to Rs 350 crore for 2025-26 amid ongoing turmoil in the country, where ethnic armed groups have taken control of vast territories, including areas bordering India’s northeastern states.

The Centre recently tightened the rules for the movement of people across the India-Myanmar border. The new rules restrict movement from 16 km under the free movement regime (FMR) to 10 km, on either side.

Other Key Allocations

India has maintained its allocation for Nepal at Rs 700 crore. The allocation for Sri Lanka saw an increase from Rs 245 crore to Rs 300 crore as the crisis-hit southern neighbour recovers from an economic meltdown.

Aid to Dhaka remains unchanged at Rs 120 crore amid a diplomatic rift between the two countries following former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster last year. Ms Hasina has been granted asylum in India, with the Muhammad Yunus-led government demanding her return.

Aid to African nations rose to Rs 225 crore from Rs 200 crore last year. The African Union joined the G20 in 2023 when India hosted the summit.

Latin America’s allocation has been increased from Rs 30 crore to Rs 60 crore. Last year, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita embarked on a nine-day official visit to Mexico, Grenada, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda, underscoring the deepening ties between India, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The allocation for Chabahar Port in Iran remains at Rs 100 crore. The port project serves as a vital trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Disaster Relief allocation saw a massive increase from Rs 10 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 64 crore this year. India has consistently been one of the first to respond to global disaster relief initiatives. India was among the early responders when Turkey witnessed devastating earthquakes in 2023. India also sent relief to flood-hit countries like Laos and Vietnam in 2024. 

Beyond direct financial aid, India is also expanding its soft power outreach. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has received Rs 351 crore, up from Rs 331 crore last year. Support for International Training Programs stands at Rs 1,247 crore.

The Maldives, which was in hot water over boycott calls, has seen a hike in budgetary allocation for the Maldives from ₹400 crores in 2023-24 to ₹770.90 crores in the current fiscal.
| Photo Credit: AFP

India’s neighbourhood received a substantial share of the annual allocation under the Ministry of External Affairs for the 2024-25 interim budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday. Out of all the countries in the neighbourhood, Bhutan has received ₹2,398.97 crores as allocation for the current fiscal year while Nepal has come second with ₹650 crores for various development projects currently underway in the Himalayan country. For 2024-25, Nepal has received an allocation of ₹700 crores.

The Maldives which has been in news recently because of anti-India protests as well as remarks from its top leadership has seen a substantial bump in allocation. The allocation for the Maldives for 2023-24 was ₹400 crores which went up to ₹770.90 crores this time. This indicates that India is increasing investments in the archipelago nation. 

Indian projects in Bangladesh under current fiscal will receive ₹130 crores and ₹220 crores have been allocated for Afghanistan which is governed by the Taliban that is yet to find official recognition from India. Sri Lanka will receive ₹60 crores of the allocation for the current fiscal. Conflict struck Myanmar has received ₹370 crores in the current fiscal.

Explained | How is the interim Budget different from Annual Budget?

Among the island nations of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles, and Mauritius have received ₹9.91 crores and ₹370 crores respectively in the current fiscal. The port of Chabahar in Iran will receive an ₹100 crores as funding. ₹3,849 crores have been allocated for Lines of Credit under the Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme. Reflecting India’s growing engagement with African nations, the budget has allocated ₹200 crores for the African development projects; the figure is as per revised estimate for current fiscal.

Projects with Eurasian countries and Latin American countries have been allocated ₹20 crores and ₹30 crores respectively. Cultural and heritage projects have been allocated ₹10 crores in the current fiscal. The expenditure will increase during 2024 to 2025 and may touch ₹15 crores.