The Indian government has clarified that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) did not provide or receive funding of $21 million for voter turnout initiatives in India between fiscal years 2014 and 2024. The clarification was provided in a written response to a question from CPI(M) MP John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that USAID/India has not implemented any voter turnout-related projects in the country. The statement follows longstanding reports suggesting the agency’s involvement in increasing voter participation during Indian elections.
The response detailed that on February 28, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had formally requested the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi to provide comprehensive data on all USAID-funded or assisted projects in India over the previous decade, excluding those conducted under seven official Partnership Agreements with the Indian government. The request also sought a list of NGOs or implementing partners involved in such initiatives.
On July 2, the U.S. Embassy shared information covering USAID funding in India from 2014 to 2024, including implementing partners, objectives, and outcomes of each activity. The Embassy reiterated that no funds were allocated for voter turnout activities.
Singh further stated that the Embassy had conveyed its plans to conclude all USAID operations in India by August 15, 2025. In a subsequent communication on August 11, the U.S. Embassy confirmed that the seven Partnership Agreements with the Indian government would also officially close from the same date.
The minister noted that while the USAID review is ongoing in the United States, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on February 16, 2025, the cancellation of $486 million in global USAID funding, including the previously cited $21 million allocation for voter turnout projects in India.
USAID formally ceased operations in India on July 1, 2025. Approximately 83% of its programs were terminated, and 94% of its staff were laid off. The U.S. State Department assumed responsibility for the remaining 17% of operations and foreign aid management. The complete closure of USAID is scheduled for September 2, 2025.
In response to Brittas’ query on the detailed expenditure of USAID projects over the past three years, Singh confirmed that a beneficiary-wise breakdown of allocations for 2022, 2023, and 2024 has been provided to the Ministry and appended as Annexure-A in the parliamentary response.
This follows a similar question raised by Brittas in March 2025 regarding USAID activities in India. The government’s clarification underscores that the agency’s operations in the country were limited to existing partnership projects and did not include any voter turnout initiatives.
The Rajya Sabha response comes amid wider scrutiny of foreign aid programs in India, highlighting transparency and accountability in international funding collaborations.
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