From Rs 36 crore to Rs 180 crore: PM Modi's foreign travel bill jumps 5x since 2021

Times of India Published Aug 6, 2026 Reviewed Aug 6, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits cost more than Rs 180 crore in 2025, up from over Rs 36 crore in 2021, a fivefold increase.

more than 36 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visitsmore than 180 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for external affairs

Cumulative expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's overseas visits since 2021 has crossed Rs 550 crore.

more than 550 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's overseas visits Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for external affairs

So far in 2026, expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits has reached over Rs 74.58 crore.

more than 74.58 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for external affairs

The Norway leg of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-nation tour in May cost Rs 17.46 crore, the highest among this year's visits.

17.46 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Norway leg Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for external affairs

Expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits rose from over Rs 36 crore in 2021 to Rs 55 crore in 2022, Rs 93 crore in 2023, Rs 109 crore in 2024, and more than Rs 180 crore in 2025.

more than 36 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits55 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits93 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits109 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visitsmore than 180 crore · Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for external affairs

Since July 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits have resulted in 316 MoUs and agreements.

316 · MoUs and agreements Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for external affairs

India received $381.8 billion in foreign direct investment between April 2021 and December 2025.

381.8 billion · India MEA, ministry of external affairs

NEW DELHI: The expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits has increased fivefold since 2021, with the annual bill rising from over Rs 36 crore in 2021 to more than Rs 180 crore in 2025, ministry of external affairs informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday.In a written reply, minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita said the cumulative expenditure on the prime minister's overseas visits since 2021 has crossed Rs 550 crore.So far in 2026, expenditure has reached over Rs 74.58 crore, although some figures remain provisional and the cost of the France visit in June is yet to be finalised.Among the visits for which expenditure has 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.According to the data shared by MEA, expenditure on PM Modi's foreign visits stood at 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 MoUs and agreements have been signed during the foreign 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.Get the latest India News and Live updates.

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