AMID a raging political controversy over USAID’s alleged role in influencing Indian elections, the latest annual report of the Finance Ministry has disclosed that the agency funded seven projects worth USD 750 million in 2023-24. “Currently, seven projects worth a total budget of USD 750 million (approx.) are being implemented by USAID in partnership with Government of India,” as per the Finance Ministry annual report for 2023-24.

 

For the financial year 2023-24, an obligation of a total of USD 97 million (about Rs 825 crore) has been made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the seven projects, it said. The Department of Economic Affairs under the Finance Ministry which is the nodal department for bilateral funding arrangements has also shared the details of projects funded in 2023-24 in the report. The USA’s bilateral development assistance to India started in 1951 and it is mainly administered through USAID. Since its commencement, USAID has provided economic assistance of over USD 17 billion to India in various sectors for over 555 projects. Political controversy erupted in the country earlier this month after the Elon Musk-led DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) claimed that it had cancelled a USD 21 million grant to India to boost “voter turnout”.

 

US President Donald Trump also repeatedly claimed that USAID under the previous administration led by Joe Biden allocated USD 21 million in funding to India for ‘voter turnout’. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the information put out by the Trump administration is “concerning” and that the Government is looking into it. The USAID was allowed in India “in good faith, to do good faith activities”, and suggestions are being made out of America that “there are activities which are in bad faith,” Jaishankar had said.

 

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Biden administration allocated USD 18 million in funding to India to help with its elections, arguing that the country doesn’t need this money. His remarks during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday after he repeatedly attacked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for allocating USD 21 million in funding to India for “voter turnout”. In his speech, Trump also accused India of taking advantage of the US. “Eighteen million dollars for helping India with its elections. Why the hell? Why don’t we just go to old paper ballots, and let them help us with their elections, right? Voter ID. Wouldn’t that be nice? We’re giving money to India for elections.

 

They don’t need money,” he said. “They take advantage of us pretty good. One of the highest tariff nations in the world...We have a 200 per cent (tariffs) there and then we’re giving them a lot of money to help them with their election,” Trump said. Trump also criticised the USAID for giving USD 29 million to Bangladesh. “USD 29 million goes to strengthen the political landscape and help them out so that they can vote for a radical left communist in Bangladesh,” he said, without naming anyone. Trump has repeatedly claimed that USAID under the previous administration led by Joe Biden allocated USD 21 million in funding to India for “voter turnout”, sparking a row in the country over the assistance.