PM Modi's foreign travel spend jumps from Rs 36 crore to Rs 180 crore: MEA data
New Delhi: The annual expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's overseas visits has increased more than fivefold since 2021, according to data tabled in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the House that the bill rose from over Rs 36 crore in 2021 to more than Rs 180 crore in 2025.
In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita said the cumulative expenditure on the prime minister's foreign visits since 2021 has crossed Rs 550 crore. For the current year, expenditure has so far reached over Rs 74.58 crore, though some figures remain provisional. The cost of the prime minister's visit to France in June is yet to be finalised.
Among the trips for which expenses have been compiled this year, the Norway leg of the prime minister's five-nation tour in May accounted for the highest cost at Rs 17.46 crore, Margherita said.
The year-wise breakdown shows a steady increase: over Rs 36 crore in 2021, Rs 55 crore in 2022, Rs 93 crore in 2023, Rs 109 crore in 2024, and more than Rs 180 crore in 2025.
Defending the expenditure, MEA said that 316 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements have been signed during these visits since July 2021. These cover sectors including defence, digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, space cooperation, mobility and migration, climate action, and cultural exchanges.
The MEA further noted that India received $381.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between April 2021 and December 2025.
The data, provided in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, comes amid ongoing discussions about the costs associated with high-level diplomatic travel. While the government highlights the economic and strategic outcomes of these visits, the sharp rise in spending has drawn attention from opposition parties and transparency advocates.
Experts note that foreign visits by heads of state often involve significant logistical, security, and delegation-related expenses, and costs can vary based on the number of countries visited, duration, and scale of engagements. The MEA's response did not provide a detailed break-up of the expenditure per visit or the specific components contributing to the increase.
The figures are based on compiled data from the MEA and are subject to final accounting. The cost of some visits, including the recent trip to France, remains provisional until all expenses are settled.
