MEA’s planned outlay doubles

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) planned outlay has been doubled after the announcement of the Union Budget last week.

The plan expenditure of the foreign ministry has increased from the Revised Budgetary Estimate of 2012-13 of INR 1620 crore to INR 3000 crore. This is the central plan segment of the MEA’s total expenditure, which is budgeted to be INR 11719 crore after last weeks budget announcement.

In terms of foreign aid, the MEA’s largest beneficiary remains Bhutan, with a total budget this coming year to be INR 3614 crore. The second-largest beneficiary will be Afghanistan with a total aid budget of INR 648 crore. Note the rise in aid to Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal and the drop in aid to the Maldives.

Interestingly, the MEA also plans to spend almost INR 26 crore under the head ‘Investment Promotion and Publicity Program’ and INR 89 lakh on energy security.

Note: 1 crore = 10 million

All graphics by Shruti Pushkarna.