India increases grant, Nepal to receive 15.87 billion

KATHMANDU: India has increased the aid it shall be providing to Nepal. In the federal budget made public today, it has been stated that the estimate given by India to the neighbouring countries including Nepal has increased.

The annual grant received by Nepal has increased by Rs. 1.12 billion (Rs. 1.89 billion) as compared to the previous fiscal year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday unveiled the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22.

According to the Indian Ministry of Finance, Nepal is set to receive Rs 9.92 billion (Rs 15.87 billion) from India this year. India’s budget will be implemented from April 2021.

India has brought a paperless budget this year. India’s budget has given high priority to the health sector. 35,000 crore has been allocated for the control of the COVID pandemic alone. The slogan of the budget is “Self-reliant and Healthy India”. 

India has been providing grants to neighbouring countries Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. 9 billion 920 million (Indian rupees) to Nepal, 30 billion 4 million rupees (Indian rupees) to Bhutan, 3 billion 500 million rupees to Afghanistan, 2 billion rupees to Bangladesh, 2 billion rupees to Sri Lanka, 2.5 billion rupees to Maldives, and 4 billion (Indian) grant has been provided to Myanmar.