NEW DELHI: USAID did not provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India between 2014 and 2024, the US embassy has informed the Indian govt, according to a reply by ministry of external affairs in response to a Parliament question. US President Donald Trump had earlier questioned the alleged funding, saying he suspected "they were trying to get someone else elected".
MoS for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that on July 2, 2025, the US embassy shared data that, it said, covered USAID funding in India from 2014 to 2024, including details of implementing partners, objectives and key accomplishments of each activity undertaken.
"The embassy also maintains that USAID/India did not receive or provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India from fiscal years 2014 to 2024, nor has it implemented any voter turnout-related activities in India," said the minister, in response to a written query in Rajya Sabha.
"On July 29, 2025, the US embassy conveyed to MEA that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close by Aug 15, 2025," he added. The MEA had earlier requested the embassy to urgently furnish details of expenditure incurred on all USAID-assisted/funded projects in India over the last 10 years (other than those being implemented under the seven partnership agreements with Indian govt).
MEA also sought a list of NGOs/implementing partners through which such initiatives were executed.
Trump had earlier accused USAID of working to effect a change of govt in India. Reports later suggested that the funding might have been meant for Bangladesh. "Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian govt... Because when we hear that Russia spent about $2,000 in our country, it was a big deal. They took some internet ads for $2,000. This is a total breakthrough," Trump had alleged.
MoS for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that on July 2, 2025, the US embassy shared data that, it said, covered USAID funding in India from 2014 to 2024, including details of implementing partners, objectives and key accomplishments of each activity undertaken.
"The embassy also maintains that USAID/India did not receive or provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India from fiscal years 2014 to 2024, nor has it implemented any voter turnout-related activities in India," said the minister, in response to a written query in Rajya Sabha.
"On July 29, 2025, the US embassy conveyed to MEA that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close by Aug 15, 2025," he added. The MEA had earlier requested the embassy to urgently furnish details of expenditure incurred on all USAID-assisted/funded projects in India over the last 10 years (other than those being implemented under the seven partnership agreements with Indian govt).
MEA also sought a list of NGOs/implementing partners through which such initiatives were executed.
Trump had earlier accused USAID of working to effect a change of govt in India. Reports later suggested that the funding might have been meant for Bangladesh. "Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian govt... Because when we hear that Russia spent about $2,000 in our country, it was a big deal. They took some internet ads for $2,000. This is a total breakthrough," Trump had alleged.
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