Parl panel calls for a more ambitious and better-funded approach to foreign policy

CHALLENGES AMIDST INDIA'S INCREASING GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITIES

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: The Seventh Report of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, tabled in both Houses of Parliament on Thursday, has highlighted the difficulties confronting the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in dealing with India's increasing global responsibilities.

While acknowledging marginal increases in funding and institutional reform, the 81-page report—moved by Committee chairperson Shashi Tharoor—calls for a more ambitious, better-funded, and strategically integrated approach to India's foreign policy framework.

The report, based on the MEA's Demands for Grants for 2024-25, reiterates concerns about underfunding. Despite a 15.45% hike in the budget for 2025-26, the report points out that actual expenditure remains disproportionately low in relation to India's growing global responsibilities. Historically, the MEA's share in total government expenditure has hovered below one per cent.