Sanjeev Sanyal, economic adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of playing a covert role in shaping India’s medical and social policies, in addition to allegedly meddling in the country’s electoral processes.
In a series of posts on social media platform X on Monday, Sanyal claimed that USAID had “effectively run” India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS) from the 1990s until 2022, when the Modi government discontinued its involvement. According to him, this foreign influence extended beyond data collection, allowing external agencies to “harvest” sensitive medical records and manipulate survey frameworks to support specific social narratives.
“Those concerned about USAID’s interference in Indian elections should be equally concerned about its deep involvement in our medical system and social policies. The NFHS is India’s most significant medical dataset, driving numerous health policies,” Sanyal stated.
He further alleged that the survey’s methodology was deliberately skewed to present a biased narrative, particularly concerning intra-family violence against women. “For instance, the questionnaire for men was limited to 29 pages, while the one for women extended to 94 pages, reflecting an intentional attempt to push a certain perspective,” he wrote.
Sanyal emphasized that the Modi administration took proactive steps to address this issue, ensuring that the latest NFHS survey is now fully managed by India’s Health Ministry. “It took eight years to fully remove USAID’s influence because it is not easy to overturn a system deeply entrenched for decades. Recognizing the problem, developing the necessary capabilities, and replacing an established framework require time,” he noted.
He also highlighted the broader context of foreign influence in India’s policy-making, referencing the tightening of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) over the last decade. “Despite protests, the government has been steadily working to limit foreign interference. The recent revelations by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) regarding USAID’s funding of election-related initiatives should further open discussions on this matter,” Sanyal added.
The issue gained traction after DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk under former US President Donald Trump’s administration, announced the cancellation of multiple programs deemed wasteful. Among these was a $486 million allocation to the ‘Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,’ which reportedly included $21 million aimed at “voter turnout” initiatives in India.
Sanyal’s statements have sparked renewed debate on foreign involvement in India’s internal affairs, with political observers closely watching the government’s next steps in reinforcing national sovereignty over policy-making and electoral processes.