USAID didn’t receive $21 mn funding for voter turnout in India: US Embassy tells MEA

USAID/India did not receive or provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India or implement any voter turnout-related activities in India between fiscal years 2014 and 2024, the Centre has said in the Rajya Sabha, quoting the US embassy.

The government said this in a written response to a query by CPI (M) MP John Brittas, on Thursday (August 21), asking the status of the actions taken by the government on the "reports suggesting the utilisation of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds" to "increase voter turnout in Indian elections."

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MEA had asked for answers

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in his response, said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested the US Embassy in New Delhi to "urgently furnish details" of the expenditure incurred on all USAID-assisted or funded projects in India on February 28 over the last 10 years (other than those being implemented under the seven Partnership Agreements with the government of India).

The MEA also sought a list of NGOs or implementing partners through which such initiatives were executed.

On July 2, 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, he said.

‘USAID received no fund for voter turnout’

In his response, the MoS further said, "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.'".

On July 29, the US Embassy conveyed to the MEA that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close "by 15 August 2025," the Centre told Rajya Sabha.

On August 11, the US Embassy in New Delhi, in a letter to the Department of Economic Affairs, "conveyed that all seven Partnership Agreements signed with the government of India would stand closed with effect from 15 August 2025," the minister said.

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Contradicts US claims

Singh, in his response, said while the review of USAID operations was ongoing in the United States, on February 16, 2025, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in a post on X, announced the cancellation of USD486 million in USAID funding for Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) projects worldwide, including USD21 million allocation for increasing "voter turnout in India." Effective July 1, USAID's operations officially ceased. Approximately 83 per cent of its programmes were terminated, and 94 per cent of its staff were laid off. The State Department assumed responsibility for the remaining 17 per cent of USAID's operations and foreign aid administration, Singh said.

"The full closure of USAID is scheduled to be completed by September 2, 2025," he said.

Brittas also asked whether the government has received, from the US, the details of expenditures on all USAID projects in India over the last three years, sought through the US Embassy.

Singh, in his response, said a "beneficiary-wise breakdown of USAID allocations made available to the ministry for three years – 2022, 2023 and 2024, as sought by the Hon'ble Member of Parliament, is placed at Annexure-A".

It is to be noted, Brittas asked a similar question in Rajya Sabha, related to USAID, in March this year.

(With inputs from agencies)