Ford Foundation Evicted from Lodhi Estate After Six Decades; Space Reassigned to Indian-Led Alliances

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has removed the Ford Foundation from its long-standing office at 55, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi. The foundation’s lease for the property ended, and after the organization vacated the premises earlier this year, the Directorate of Estates allotted the ground and first floors to two India-led international initiatives: the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA).

CNN-News18Business Standard (India)The Indian ExpressFord Foundation evicted from Lodhi Estate premises where it was based since the 60s

The Ford Foundation established its New Delhi office in 1952 at the invitation of the Government of India and has been located at Lodhi Estate since the 1960s. Over the decades it partnered with the government on development programmes, including agriculture, education and the early Green Revolution. In 2015 the Ministry of Home Affairs placed the foundation on a watchlist over alleged funding of “anti-India” activities; the designation was removed in March 2016 ahead of a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Indian Express

• 2025 – MoHUA’s Land and Development Office initiated eviction proceedings after the lease expired.

CNN-News18

• Early 2026 – The foundation vacated the Lodhi Estate premises (earlier this year) and updated its address to Level 8, DLF Centre, Sansad Marg in March.

The Indian Express

• September 11 2026 – The Directorate of Estates formally allotted the ground and first floors to the IBCA and GBA.

Business Standard (India)

• Ford Foundation – International philanthropic organization, New Delhi office since 1952.

The Indian Express

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) – Union ministry that oversaw the eviction and reallocation.

CNN-News18

• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) – Multi-country coalition for big-cat conservation, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.

CNN-News18

• Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) – Coalition promoting biofuel cooperation, also launched by Modi in 2023.

CNN-News18

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi – Indian prime minister who inaugurated both alliances during the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit.

CNN-News18

• According to the foundation’s financial statement for the year ending December 31 2025, it approved grants of $773 million globally.

The Indian Express

• The most recent publicly available annual report (2012) showed the foundation disbursed $13.51 million in grants to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The Indian Express

• MoHUA officials confirmed that the Ford Foundation had already vacated the Lodhi Estate office, so no “forceful eviction” was carried out.

The Indian Express

• The Ford Foundation did not respond to requests for comment; its representatives were unavailable by phone and during a site visit.

The Indian Express

Reassigning the former Ford Foundation space to the IBCA and GBA underscores a policy shift toward domestically driven environmental and renewable-energy programmes. Both alliances were created during the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit, reflecting the government’s focus on big-cat conservation and biofuel development as priority sectors.

Business Standard (India)