PM Modi's foreign visits cost over Rs 74.58 crore so far in 2026; over Rs 550 crore spent since 2021: MEA in RS
New Delhi, August 6
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that the expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits has reached over Rs 74.58 crore in 2026 so far, while the cumulative spending on his overseas visits since 2021 stands at more than Rs 550 crore.
In a written reply, Margherita stated that the highest expenditure among the visits for which figures are available this year was incurred during the Norway leg of the Prime Minister's five-nation tour in May at Rs 17.46 crore.
According to the reply, expenditure on the Prime Minister's foreign visits was over Rs 180 crore in 2025, Rs 109 crore in 2024, Rs 93 crore in 2023, Rs 55 crore in 2022 and Rs 36 crore in 2021. The Ministry also noted that several expenditure figures for 2026 are provisional and will be finalised after settlement of bills, while expenditure for the France visit in June is still being compiled.
The Ministry said that high-level visits by the Prime Minister are an established means of strengthening India's bilateral, regional and global engagements across sectors such as technology, trade and investment, defence, energy and resilient supply chains.
It also informed the House that country-wise details of MoUs signed during these visits, while total FDI received during the April 2021-December 2025 period stood at USD 381.8 billion.
The MEA further informed the Rajya Sabha that 316 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements have been signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits since July 2021.
These span a wide range of sectors, including defence, trade and investment, digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, space cooperation, mobility and migration, climate action and cultural exchanges.
According to the reply, the agreements are aimed at strengthening India's bilateral partnerships and expanding cooperation with countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Aur kya karein? Every PM travels abroad. But I wish the government would release more detailed breakdowns of these expenses. Transparency is key for public trust. Also, why is the France visit cost not compiled yet? It's been months.
316 MoUs signed! Space, semiconductors, AI, green energy... these are the sectors that'll define India's future. If PM Modi's visits are opening these doors, I'm not going to complain about the cost. It's an investment in our global standing. Jai Hind! 🙏
Hmm, 74 crore in just 7 months of 2026? That's a lot. I mean, we're all proud of India's global presence, but at the same time, I think about our farmers, our small businesses... Can't we find a balance between global diplomacy and domestic spending? Just saying.
As an outsider looking in, these numbers seem reasonable for a country of India's size and ambition. PM Modi is essentially doing global marketing for India Inc. The 381.8B in FDI over this period really shows that these trips are paying dividends in real economic terms.
People forget that diplomacy is not a cost, it's an investment. With 316 MoUs - from defence to space to semiconductors - India is building strategic partnerships that would take decades otherwise. And those figures are still provisional! The actual impact will be felt in the coming decade. Let's not nitpick. ✌️
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