Strengthening India’s Global Presence: A Call to Action for the Ministry of External Affairs

The parliamentary panel report released on Tuesday suggests that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) should increase staffing in its overseas embassies and establish missions in all UN member states to align with India’s growing global interests. The report also recommends allocating at least one percent of the government’s annual budget to the MEA, reflecting its important role in positioning India as a influential player on the world stage.

According to the panel, the MEA is one of the least funded central ministries, with its revised budget making up only 0.4 percent of the total government allocation from 2020-21. The committee, led by PP Chaudhary, presented the report in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.