Budget: Ministry of External Affairs gets the highest allocation till date

New Delhi: In a significant move vis-a-vis Budget 2021-22, the Ministry of External Affairs got the highest allocation till date.

The Budget estimates 2021-22 allocation of MEA is Rs 18154.73, roughly 5 per cent higher than BE 2020-21 of Rs 17346.71 cr. It is also a 21 per cent higher than the revised estimate of 2020-21 of Rs 15000 cr.

“Enhanced allocation has been made commensurate with India’s expanding diplomatic footprint, with opening of new Missions, towards Embassies & Missions abroad,” an official source said.

The Development Partnership portfolio which constitutes MEA’s Aid Heads continues to be the focus and priority of our budgetary allocation, forming 42 per cent of the total allocation.

As part of India’s Neighbourhood First policy, largest share of Aid portfolio is towards Aid to Bhutan.

Moreover, deep and extensive development partnership engagement with Nepal, Myanmar, IOR, Eurasian and African countries is reflected by their significant share in aid portfolio, the source said.

Among highlights, a significant share of the aid portfolio in Budget 2021-22 is to cater to India’s sustained COVID Aid assistance to friendly countries including “Vaccine Maitri” grants.

Sources said, given India’s Presidency of UNSC in 2021-22 and India’s commitment towards multilateral cooperation, enhanced allocation in BE 2021-22 has been earmarked under United Nations and Other International Organisations, as compared to earlier years.

The annual Budget 2021-22 was presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday.