New Delhi: In the Union Budget 2026-27, India has increased development assistance budgets for several neighbouring countries including Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Nepal, while reducing the allocation for Bangladesh by ₹60 crore.
Financial aid to Bhutan has been raised to ₹2,288.56 crore. Allocation for Afghanistan has been increased from ₹100 crore to ₹150 crore, indicating proposed new development projects in the country.
Nepal has been provided ₹800 crore, which is ₹100 crore more than the previous budget. Sri Lanka’s allocation has been increased from ₹300 crore to ₹400 crore. Assistance to Mongolia has also seen a significant rise from ₹5 crore to ₹25 crore.
On the other hand, financial assistance to Bangladesh has been reduced from ₹120 crore to ₹60 crore. The allocation for Maldives has decreased from ₹600 crore to ₹550 crore, and for Myanmar from ₹350 crore to ₹300 crore.
Additionally, India’s aid to Eurasian countries has been cut to ₹38 crore, while assistance to Latin American countries has been increased to ₹120 crore.
The overall budget for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also been raised from ₹20,516.62 crore to ₹22,118.97 crore in the latest budget.
While presenting the budget in Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted three key duties aimed at accelerating the economy and empowering the poor, deprived, and vulnerable sections of society.
She emphasized that the government’s resolve and the budget being prepared in the ‘Duty Bhavan’ inspired these three duties.
This budget reflects India’s commitment to strengthening regional ties through targeted financial support and development assistance.
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