Britain to end India aid programme in 2015

Cash-strapped Britain has announced it will halt all its aid to India in 2015 and make further cuts in the annual 280 million-pound assistance to the country for the remaining three years, citing the booming Asian giant's rising stature on the world stage.

"India is successfully developing and our own bilateral relationship has to keep up with 21st century India. It's time to recognise India's changing place in the world," International Development Secretary Justine Greening said, announcing the UK's decision to end all aid to India in 2015.

British aid to India was cut last year but still it committed the UK to spending 280 million pounds annually until 2015.

Greening, who was in India recently for talks on future aid arrangements, said the government here will reduce its annual support to India over the next three years, saving around 200 million pounds ahead of the cut-off.

Her statement came a day after British Foreign Secretary William Hague held talks with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in Delhi.