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The higher funding through USAID to the Government of India during the UPA times showcases the increased involvement of the agency and other foreign powers in India, BJP sources said
However, funding to non-government entities in India by USAID has increased under the Modi government, standing at $2579 million against $2114 million in the UPA era. (Representational photo/AP)
USAID funding to the Government of India under the decade-long United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime was nearly $204 million, which fell to only $1.5 million under the Narendra Modi government. This indicates the Modi government has been able to keep foreign influences at bay, data accessed by CNN-News18 shows.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been in focus ever since Donald Trump returned to power in the US last month.
The higher funding through USAID to the Government of India during the UPA times showcases the increased involvement of the agency and other foreign powers in India, BJP sources said. “It also highlights how the USAID and deep state were significantly involved in policy matters with their close allegiance to the Congress. This number dropped significantly during the NDA era, again showcasing how the Modi government has been able to keep foreign influences at bay.”
However, funding to non-government entities in India by USAID has increased under the Modi government, standing at $2579 million against $2114 million in the UPA era. Bharatiya Janata Party sources said this shows that after the Modi government came to power, the funding to NGOs and other avenues in India increased significantly. “This reveals how the focus has shifted from USAID being directly involved in government matters to funding anti-India or anti-national forums in India,” a BJP leader claimed.
The figures also indicate that USAID funding patterns have shown notable spikes during key political moments, especially when the NDA government is in power or ahead of elections, possibly to influence policy decisions, strengthen civil society groups, and shape political narratives in alignment with deep state interests, BJP sources said. For example, USAID funding rose from $121 million in 2001 to $154 million in 2002, and again from $83 million in 2020 to $228 million in 2022, just two years before the 2024 general elections.
BJP sources said this raises concerns about foreign-backed efforts to shape India’s political landscape against the BJP. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday also said, “…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 government… This is a total breakthrough…” He was referring to the $21 million funding through USAID being stopped now.
USAID is facing allegations from President Donald Trump’s administration of using its diplomatic and political influence to interfere in other countries, often working in alignment with the interests of the so-called “deep state” to shape political outcomes. BJP sources claimed that USAID’s funding in India had been strategically routed through multiple fronts, many aligning with Congress-backed interests and the funding had been disguised under various themes such as human rights, climate change, minority welfare, and democracy promotion but “ultimately serves as a tool for political leverage”.
BJP sources said that USAID’s funding patterns align with the timing of anti-government protests, media narratives, and political movements, indicating a coordinated global push to undermine the BJP-led government and influence Indian elections. For example, under the sector categorised as “Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance”, the funding between 2001 and 2004 was over 1 million USD annually, but it saw exponential growth in 2022. “The increase in funding coincides with Rahul Gandhi’s growing narrative that Indian democracy is under threat and with the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress, again showing the relationship between Congress, USAID, and the deep state,” a BJP leader said.
