Indian foreign aid

Indian foreign aid is the aid given by the Indian government to other governments. India's major quantum of foreign aid is given to neighbouring countries. According to India's budget in 2021–22, its direct overseas aid stood at ₹18,154 crore (US$2.3 billion).^[1] That apart, India also extended a direct line of credit worth $30.66 billion to several foreign countries for developmental projects.^[2] The way of providing a much larger share of aid in the form of concessional loans is quite similar to that of China.^[3] India has set up 'Indian Agency for Partnership in Development' as a part of Ministry of External Affairs (India) to channelize aid to recipient nations.

An American social enterprise, Devex reported in 2013 that India has spent US$1 billion on foreign aid in 2012–13. Since 2009, the foreign aid had increased around 3.2 times annually.^[4] In 2017, the government declared that India had been a net donor in 2015–16.^[5] In the Indian Government budget of year 2019-2020 USD 1.32 billion (INR 8415 crore) were allocated (0.3% of the overall budget) for India's foreign aid programme. Indian aid receiving countries are Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, African nations, Caribbean nations and a few others. Over the years India has funded several infrastructure, development and other projects in many countries worth billions of USD.