Question : Public Diplomacy

(a) the details of Public Diplomacy budget of MEA year-wise from April 2014 to March 2020;

(b) whether the MEA fund Think Tanks, Research Organizations, Foundations for Profit or Non Profit and/or Government/quasi Government organizations from its Public Diplomacy Budget or any other budgetary head and if so, the details thereof:

(c) the details of money given to each think tank/Research Organization/ Foundation/ Government or quasi Government organization including the specific activity for which these funds are provided year wise/ activity wise/ Think Tank/ Research organization/ Government or quasi Government organization wise clearly delineating the amount given and the purpose for which it has been given/spent from April 2014 to December 2019;

(d) whether the MEA conducted any study or commissioned any study as to how these spends have furthered India’s strategic, tactical or even diplomatic interests; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) Details of Public Diplomacy budget of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) year wise is placed below;

<pre>
(value in Rs. Crores)
Year
BE
RE
2014-15
24.00
21.60
2015-16
22.00
20.29
2016-17
20.30
20.08
2017-18
21.66
20.55
2018-19
21.87
15.65
2019-20
23.05
18.71

</pre>
(b) & (c) Yes . The Policy Planning and Research (PP &R) Division of MEA supports autonomous bodies such as the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and the Research and Information Systems (RIS). It also supports events, studies, conferences and seminars by various think tanks and institutions. MEA participates in and supports major conferences including Raisina Dialogue, Indian Ocean Conference, Global Technology Summit, India-US Forum and West Asia Conference.

Details of money given to various think tanks, research organizations and universities from April 2014 to December 2019 are enclosed as Annexure A.

(d) & (e) MEA regularly assess the utilization of funds to ensure accountability and optimum results achieved from such outreach.

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