Budget 2012: 23% increase in MEA allocation; big increase in the aid to neighbours

NEW DELHI: An increase of about 23 per cent was made today in the Union Budget for the Ministry of External Affairs which got an allocation of Rs 9661.97 crore including a substantial hike in the aid given to neighbouring countries.

An increase of Rs 1825.97 crore has been made by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in his Budget 2012-13 for MEA including increased assistance to Latin American Countries from Rs 0.50 crore to Rs 15 crore.

While aid allocation to Bangladesh is Rs 30 crore as compared to Rs 8 crore last year, the aid for Bhutan and Nepal is Rs 2638 crore and Rs 270 crore respectively this year. Last year the aid component was Rs 2030 crore for Bhutan and Rs 150 crore for Nepal.

The outlay for 'embassies and missions' has also been hiked from Rs 1,464.32 crore to Rs 1,526.23 crore.

The expenditure for upgrading passport and emigration infrastructure has been increased from Rs 399.72 crore to Rs 583.73 crore.