Union Budget 2025: Foreign Ministry budget decreased, women welfare abroad ignored

Though there is significant increase in allocation for the last few years compared with the past, the allocation this time is yet not at par with India’s growing global clout and ambitions

Dubai: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been allocated a budget of Rs 20,516 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26 in the Union Budget, a notable decrease from last year’s revised allocation of Rs 25,277 crore.

Though there is significant increase in allocation for the last few years compared with the past, the allocation this time is yet not at par with India’s growing global clout and ambitions.

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The vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 hinges on sustained global partnership. Despite its challenging mandate in making India into a leading power and influential entity among the nations of the world, MEA remains one of the least funded Central Ministries.

The MEA’s allocation not only reflects the government’s foreign policy priorities but also its capacity to deliver on its global ambitions and commitments.

Though Rs. 4,206 crore was allocated to expenditures for embassies and missions, an increase from last year’s revised layout of Rs.3,969 crore, the budget for women welfare abroad this year remained dismal with only a sanction of Rs. 1 crore.

The budget also allocated a significant amount of Rs.1,913 crore for passport and emigration where the Ministry is intended to usher electronic passports. Bhutan remained India’s top recipient of foreign aid with allocation of Rs. 2,150 crore from total aid outlay of Rs. 6,750 crore.