STANDING COMMITTEE 04 ON EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (2014-2015) 00 SIXTEENTH LOK SABHA 0 MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (2014-2015) FOURTH REPORT LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI DECEMBER, 2014/AGRAHAYANA, 1936 (Saka) FOURTH REPORT STANDING COMMITTEE ON EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (2014-2015) (SIXTEENTH LOK SABHA) MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (2014-2015) Presented to Lok Sabha 22nd December, 2014 Laid in Rajya Sabha 22nd December, 2014 LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI DECEMBER, 2014/AGRAHAYANA, 1936 (Saka) COEA NO. 116 Price : Rs. ................. © 2014 by Lok Sabha Secretariat Published under Rule 382 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha (__________Edition) and Printed by CONTENTS PAGE COMPOSITION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (2014-15)……………… (i) INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………… (ii) CHAPTER I Implementation of the Committee’s Recommendations………………………………………………… 1 CHAPTER II Budgetary Proposals …………………………………………….. 3 A. Overall Budgetary Proposals and Budget Allocation…… 3 B. Plan Outlay……………………………………………...... 7 C. Non Plan Outlay………………………………………..... 9 CHAPTER III Establishment Strength………………………………………...… 19 A. Establishment Strength…………………………………… 19 B. Training…………………………………………………... 20 C. Use of Hindi in Indian establishments abroad……….... 22 CHAPTER IV Sectoral Allocation………………………………………………. 24 A. Embassies and Missions………………………………… 24 Digitalization Project…………………………… 27 B. Passport and Emigration…………………………………. 29 C. International Cooperation……………………………….. 31 a. Nalanda University……………………………… 32 b. South Asian University…………………………. 36 D. Capital Outlay…………………………………………… 38 CHAPTER V India’s Developmental Engagement……………………………. 46 A. India’s Aid Policy………………………………………. 49 B. Development Partnership Administration……………… 52 C. Aid to Afghanistan …………………………………….. 54 D. Aid to Bangladesh…………..………………………….. 57 E. Aid/Loan Advances to Bhutan ………………………… 58 F. Aid/Loan and Advances to Maldives…………………... 62 G. Aid to Myanmar………………………………………… 63 H. Aid to Nepal…………………………………................. 66 I. Aid to African Countries………………………………. 71 J. Aid to Latin American Countries……………………….. 75 K. Aid to Developing Countries ……………….................. 77 L. SAARC Programmes……………………………………. 79 CHAPTER VI Indian Council for Cultural Relations…………………………… 81 CHAPTER VII Miscellaneous……………………………………………………. 86 Indian Hostages and Evacuation of Indians………. …... 86 APPENDICES I. Minutes of the third sitting of the Committee held on 08.10.2014 …………….. 90 II. Minutes of the ninth sitting of the Committee held on 16.12.2014 …………….. 93 (i) COMPOSITION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (2014-2015) Sl. No. Name of Members 1. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Chairperson Lok Sabha 2. Shri Sirajuddin Ajmal 3. Prof. (Dr.) Sugata Bose 4. Shri Ranjit Singh Brahmpura 5. Shri Arka Keshari Deo 6. Shri Rahul Gandhi 7. Shri Anantkumar Hegde 8. Shrimati Rakshatai Khadse 9. Shri Raghav Lakhanpal 10. Shri Jose K. Mani 11. Shri Feroze Varun Gandhi* 12. Shri A. Anwhar Raajhaa 13. Shri Magantti Venkateswara Rao (Babu) 14. Md. Salim 15. Dr. Mamtaz Sanghamita 16. Shri P.R. Senthilnathan 17. Shri Ram Swaroop Sharma 18. Shrimati Supriya Sule 19. Shri Sharad Tripathi 20. Shri Shivkumar Udasi 21. Vacant# Rajya Sabha 22. Shri Satyavrat Chaturvedi 23. Shri H.K. Dua 24. Shri Chunibhai Kanjibhai Gohel 25. Shrimati Kanimozhi 26. Shri Ram Kumar Kashyap 27. Dr. Karan Singh 28. Shri D. P. Tripathi 29. Shri Pavan Kumar Varma 30. Shri C.M. Ramesh@ 31. Vacant## SECRETARIAT 1. Shri. Cyril John - Joint Secretary 2. Dr. Ram Raj Rai - Director 3. Smt. Rita Jailkhani - Additional Director 4. Ms. Kiran Bhargava - Senior Executive Assistant *Shri Feroze Varun Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha has been nominated vice Dr. K.C. Patel, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha who has been nominated to the Committee on Information Technology w.e.f.11.09.2014. # Shri Vijay Sampla ceased to be Member of the Committee consequent upon his appointment as Minister w.e.f. 09.11.2014. @ Shri Y. S. Chowdary ceased to be Member of the Committee consequent upon his appointment as Minister w.e.f. 09.11.2014 and Shri. C.M. Ramesh has been nominated w.e.f. 28.11.2014. # # Shri Murli Deora, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha had been nominated vice Shri Anand Sharma, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha who had been nominated to the Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers w.e.f. 25.09.2014. Vacancy arose w.e.f. 24.11.2014 due to his sad demise. (ii) INTRODUCTION I, the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on External Affairs, having been authorized by the Committee to present the Report on their behalf, present this Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on External Affairs (2014-2015) on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of External Affairs for the year 2014-15. 2. The Committee heard the views of the representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs at their third sitting held on 8th October 2014. 3. The Committee wish to express their gratitude to the officers of the Ministry of External Affairs for placing before them the material and information that the Committee desired and also appearing before the Committee for placing their considered views before them in connection with the examination of Demands for Grants for the year 2014-15. 4. The Report was considered and adopted by the Committee at their ninth sitting held on 16th December 2014. 5. The Minutes of the sittings of the Committee held on 8th October 2014 and 16th December, 2014 are given in Appendix-I and II to the Report. 6. For facility of reference, the observations/recommendations of the Committee have been printed in bold letters in the Report. NEW DELHI DR. SHASHI THAROOR 19th December, 2014 Chairperson, 28 Agrahayana, 1936 (Saka) Standing Committee on External Affairs. (iii) CHAPTER-I IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS The 20th Report (15th Lok Sabha) of the Standing Committee on External Affairs on Demands for Grants of Ministry of External Affairs for the year 2013-2014 was presented to Lok Sabha on 26th April, 2013 and laid in Rajya Sabha on 29th April, 2013. The Report contained 29 recommendations/observations. 1.2 In compliance of Direction 73-A of the Directions by the Speaker, the Minister of State for External Affairs made a statement in Lok Sabha on 8th May, 2014 giving the status of implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee in their 14th Report (15th Lok Sabha). An analysis of the statement showed that out of 28 recommendations, the Government had accepted all the 28 recommendations. Out of these, 04 recommendations were implemented by the Government, 16 recommendations were under process of implementation, 01 recommendation was not implemented and 07 recommendations were yet to be implemented. 1.3 On the basis of Action Taken replies received from the Ministry of External Affairs on the 20th Report (15th Lok Sabha), the Committee presented their 22nd Report (Action Taken) to the Lok Sabha on 24th August, 2013 and laid in Rajya Sabha on 26th August, 2013. The Committee, in their Action Taken Report have commented on the Action Taken replies furnished by the Ministry in respect of Recommendation Nos. 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18, 21,23,24,25,27 and 29 contained in the 20th Report. Final Action Taken Statement as furnished by the Ministry of External Affairs on the comments contained in the 22nd Report was laid in both the Houses of the Parliament on 18th February, 2014. 1.4 In compliance of Direction 73-A of the Directions by the Speaker, the Minister of State for External Affairs made a statement in Lok Sabha on 19th February, 2014 giving the status of implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee in their 20th Report (15th L.S.). An analysis of the statement showed that out of 29 recommendations, the Government had accepted 28 recommendations, 06 recommendations were implemented by the Government, 14 recommendations under process of implementation, 02 recommendations were not implemented and 07 recommendations were yet to be implemented. 1 1.5 As, regards the status of implementation of the Committee’s recommendations, the Foreign Secretary informed the Committee, during the course of evidence on the Demands for Grants (2014- 15) as under: “…We have carefully noted the recommendations made by the earlier Committee and are fully committed to implementing them.” 2 CHAPTER-II BUDGETARY PROPOSALS Background The function of the Ministry of External Affairs has been laid down in the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, as amended from time to time. The Ministry of External Affairs is entrusted with the task of formulating, implementing and managing the foreign policy of India. The Ministry has been building and consolidating India’s political, economic, trade, commercial, cultural and consular relations with other countries. These objectives are shaped into action through bilateral, regional and international consultations both at Headquarters and abroad. The Ministry has 183 Missions/Posts abroad which constantly engage with the host government as well as regional and multilateral bodies to further the objectives of India’s foreign policy. The Ministry has also set up specialized offices across the world, and regional passport and branch offices in India. The Ministry is also responsible for the work of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and the Indian Council of World Affairs. 2.2 The Budget of the Ministry has both Plan and Non-Plan components. A noteworthy feature of the total budget has been