National news: India makes big cut in UN budget

New Delhi. India has given a big message by cutting the amount allocated for international bodies including the United Nations by more than 35 percent in its interim budget for 2024-25. Amidst this decision, a senior member of the Indian National Security Establishment has called on India to withdraw from the UN peacekeeping mission at the global level, until a concrete decision is taken on India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cut funding for international bodies, including the United Nations, by 35.16 percent compared to the revised estimates for 2023-24. For 2024-2025, the interim budget estimates Rs 558.12 crore for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to spend on international bodies including the UN, BIMSTEC, and SAARC.

In the revised estimates for 2023-2024, the Finance Ministry has provided Rs 866.70 crore for contributions to global institutions. However, the regular budget to be presented later this year may revise the amount after the installation of the new government in India in June 2024. The most significant budget cut for MEA was Rs 175 crore for the UN for 2024-25, which was 54.25 per cent less than the revised estimates for 2023-2024, which was Rs 382.54 crore.