<h1>Parliamentary Panel Urges More Funding for External Affairs to Boost India's Soft Power and Strengthen Foreign Services</h1> Several members of a parliamentary panel have advocated for increased funding to the Ministry of External Affairs to enhance India's soft power, train its personnel, and expand its human resources. During a briefing on the ministry's budget for 2025-26, MPs emphasized the need for strengthening the foreign services cadre. The panel's chairman noted resource constraints but acknowledged a consensus on the necessity of these enhancements. Discussions also covered India's bid for a United Nations Security Council seat in 2028, development aid, new embassies, and training for foreign service officers, alongside the roles of Nalanda and South Asian Universities.