High Commission of India,
London
Indo-British Economic &
Commercial Relations
UK AID TO INDIA
UK ranks fifth among the aid disbursing countries of the world after Japan, USA, France and Germany. It contributes about 0.27% of its GDP as international aid. India is the single largest recipient of bilateral development assistance from the UK (in 1998-99, India accounted for 7.8% of total UK bilateral aid of £ 1178 million).
The broad thrust of the existing DFID programme in India includes policy and management reform in key productive areas; promotion of public and private investment in education and health; and promoting rural development in a sustainable manner. Poverty alleviation is the central focus of the DFID programme. Six main sectors, which the programme has focused on, are:
- Energy
- Rural Development
- Health
- Education
- Urban Poverty
- Water & Sanitation
The aid programme is concentrated in four states - Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal. Annual disbursement is of the order of £90 million, entirely in grants. Disbursements vis-a-vis pledges for the last few years as follows:
Pledge and disbursement of Aid
(Figures in Million Pounds)
| Pledge | Disbursement |
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| Year | (Excluding for CDC) | Capital & Project tied Aid | Technical Collaboration | Total |
| 1993-94 | 184.0 | 45.7 | 30.0 | 75.7 |
| 1994-95 | 78.0 | 34.4 | 30.0 | 64.4 |
| 1995-96 | 92.8 | 51.5 | 30.0 | 81.5 |
| 1996-97 | 91.5 | 52.0 | 40.0 | 92.0 |
| 1997-98 | 95.0 | 81.0 | ||
| 1998-99 | 92.0 | |||
| ‘99-2000 (proj.) | 99.50 (projected) |
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| 2000-01 (proj.) |
115.00 (projected) |
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