MEA Details Nearly ₹75 Crore Spent On PM Modi's Foreign Trips This Year

The Centre has spent nearly Rs 74.59 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits undertaken for bilateral engagements so far in 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In a written reply to questions raised by AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI MP V. Sivadasan, the ministry said a total of Rs 74,58,93,797 had been spent on the Prime Minister's overseas visits up to July this year. The expenditure covers visits to 13 countries, including Malaysia, Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy, France, Slovakia, Seychelles, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the data submitted by the MEA, the highest expenditure this year was incurred during the Prime Minister's visit to Norway in the second half of May, amounting to Rs 17.46 crore. The visit to Israel in February was the second most expensive, costing Rs 11.92 crore. The ministry's response provides country-wise and visit-wise expenditure details for the Prime Minister's bilateral engagements undertaken during the year.

The MEA also informed the House that the cumulative expenditure on Prime Minister Modi's foreign visits from 2021 through July 2026 stands at approximately Rs 557.51 crore. Among the overseas visits during this period, the highest expenditure was recorded for the Prime Minister's visit to France in February 2025, which cost Rs 25.59 crore. The information was provided by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita in response to the parliamentary questions.

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As part of its reply, the ministry also shared expenditure figures for selected foreign visits undertaken by previous Congress-led governments for comparison. According to the MEA, visits by the then Prime Minister to the United States in 2011, France in 2011, Russia in 2013 and Germany in 2013 cost Rs 10.74 crore, Rs 8.33 crore, Rs 9.95 crore and Rs 6.02 crore, respectively. The ministry clarified that these figures represent actual expenditure and have not been adjusted for inflation or currency fluctuations.

The MEA noted that the Prime Minister's foreign visits typically include bilateral meetings with world leaders, participation in international summits, interactions with the Indian diaspora, memorial visits and official state functions. Prime Minister Modi travels on Air India One, operated by a dedicated Indian Air Force squadron using specially configured Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, accompanied by senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of External Affairs, other government departments and personnel from the Special Protection Group responsible for his security.

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