The Finance Ministry's annual report for 2023-24 reveals that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded seven projects in India worth $750 million. An obligation of $97 million (approximately ₹825 crore) was made in FY24. These projects focused on areas such as agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, renewable energy, disaster management, and health. No funding was allocated for enhancing voter turnout, contradicting recent claims.
This disclosure comes amidst a political controversy sparked by allegations of USAID's involvement in influencing Indian elections. Claims made by Elon Musk's DOGE and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a $21 million grant to boost voter turnout were refuted. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated the government is investigating the Trump administration's information, while the Congress party accused the BJP of spreading misinformation.
USAID's bilateral assistance to India began in 1951 and has exceeded $17 billion across various sectors. The report clarifies that the $21 million figure, previously cited, was allocated to Bangladesh, not India, and not for voter turnout.