Now Reading: Govt spent Rs 557.51 crore on PM Modi’s 77 foreign visits since 2021
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Govt spent Rs 557.51 crore on PM Modi’s 77 foreign visits since 2021
The central government told Parliament on Thursday that it spent Rs 557.51 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to 77 countries between 2021 and July 2026. Minister of State for External…
The Story in Brief
The central government told Parliament on Thursday that it spent Rs 557.51 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to 77 countries between 2021 and July 2026. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, replying in the Rajya Sabha to questions from AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI MP V Sivadasan, said the highest annual expenditure was in 2025: Rs 187.83 crore for 23 countries. In 2026, the costliest trip was to Norway in May (Rs 17.46 crore). Figures exclude a June 2026 France visit as bills are still being compiled.
The government said the trips resulted in 316 agreements across defence, trade, investment, and renewable energy. It also cited Rs 381.8 billion in FDI received between April 2021 and December 2025. For comparison, Margherita provided UPA-era figures: Rs 10.74 crore for a 2011 US visit and Rs 8.33 crore for a 2011 France trip, without adjusting for inflation.
The Indian Opinion
Figures without inflation adjustment or cost-benefit analysis make for easy headlines. Critics will call it wasteful, supporters will cite the $381.8 billion FDI and 316 agreements signed. Neither side has a complete picture. The real test is whether these trips produced deals that would not have happened otherwise. The government must answer: how many of those 316 MoUs actually translated into investment, jobs, or strategic gains that offset the expense? Numbers on bills are fine, but outcomes matter more.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, freepressjournal.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
