Sanjoy gorh editor and founder
Introduction
The Union Government has informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits between February and July 2026 cost approximately ₹74.59 crore. The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha through a written reply by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
The government also revealed that spending on the Prime Minister’s overseas visits has crossed ₹550 crore since 2021. The figures have sparked public interest as citizens seek greater transparency about government expenditure and the outcomes of high level international visits.
At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that these visits are not merely diplomatic events. According to the government, they play an important role in strengthening India’s global partnerships, encouraging investment, improving trade relations, expanding technology cooperation, and enhancing national security.
In this article, we explain the latest data shared in Parliament, break down the expenses country by country, compare the figures with previous years, and understand why these foreign visits are considered important for India’s long term interests.
Government Reveals Cost of PM Modi’s Foreign Visits
During the Rajya Sabha session, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita submitted a written reply detailing the expenditure on the Prime Minister’s official foreign visits.
According to the reply, the government spent ₹74.59 crore on overseas visits undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between February and July 2026.
The ministry also confirmed that the cumulative expenditure on the Prime Minister’s foreign visits from 2021 onwards has exceeded ₹550 crore.These figures include official travel related expenses incurred during visits to multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific region.
Countries Visited During February to July 2026
During this period, Prime Minister Modi visited several countries as part of India’s diplomatic outreach.
Some of the countries included:
- Malaysia
- Israel
- United Arab Emirates
- Italy
- France
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Sweden
- Seychelles
- Other partner nations
These visits included bilateral meetings, participation in international summits, discussions on trade, investment, defence cooperation, and engagement with the Indian diaspora.
Country Wise Expenditure on Foreign Visits
The government also shared the expenditure incurred for several individual countries.
| Country | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Norway | ₹17.46 crore |
| Israel | ₹11.92 crore |
| Seychelles | ₹8.22 crore |
| Sweden | ₹6.33 crore |
| Malaysia | ₹5.57 crore |
| New Zealand | ₹5.44 crore |
Among all the countries listed, Norway recorded the highest expenditure at ₹17.46 crore, followed by Israel with ₹11.92 crore.
The ministry noted that expenses vary depending on several factors, including travel arrangements, security requirements, delegation size, logistics, accommodation, transportation, and local arrangements during official engagements.
Some Figures Are Still Provisional
The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that not all financial figures are final.
According to the government, the expenditure related to visits to France and countries covered during the May 2026 foreign tour remains provisional. The final amount may change after pending bills are settled and financial reconciliation is completed.This means the overall expenditure may increase or decrease slightly after the completion of the accounting process.
Spending Compared With Previous Years
The latest data also provides an opportunity to compare foreign visit expenses over the past few years.
Foreign Visit Expenditure by Year
| Year | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 2024 | ₹109.51 crore |
| 2025 | ₹187.83 crore |
| February to July 2026 | ₹74.59 crore |
The year 2025 recorded the highest annual expenditure among the years mentioned, with spending reaching ₹187.83 crore.
The expenditure in 2024 stood at ₹109.51 crore, while spending during the first half of 2026 is lower because it covers only the period between February and July.
Officials also noted that the 2026 figures may be revised after pending expenses are finalized.
Why Does the Government Spend on Foreign Visits?
Official foreign visits by the Prime Minister involve several categories of expenditure.
These may include:
- Aircraft and transportation
- Security arrangements
- Accommodation for official delegations
- Venue management
- Communication facilities
- Protocol services
- Local logistics
- Official meetings and diplomatic events
International visits by heads of government require extensive planning and coordination involving multiple ministries and security agencies.
The government states that these expenditures are part of India’s diplomatic responsibilities and international engagement.
Government Explains the Purpose of the Visits
The Ministry of External Affairs told Parliament that Prime Minister Modi’s overseas visits have helped strengthen India’s position globally.
According to the ministry, these visits have contributed to stronger cooperation in several important sectors.
Technology
India has expanded cooperation with partner countries in emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductor development, and innovation.
Trade
Trade discussions during bilateral meetings aim to improve market access, reduce barriers, and increase exports and imports between India and partner countries.
Investment
Foreign visits often include meetings with business leaders and investors to encourage investments in India’s manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology sectors.
Defence
India has strengthened defence partnerships through joint exercises, defence production, strategic dialogue, and military cooperation with friendly countries.
Energy
Energy security remains one of India’s major priorities. Discussions during these visits include oil supplies, renewable energy projects, hydrogen cooperation, and long term energy partnerships.
Supply Chains
The government also highlighted efforts to build resilient global supply chains so that businesses can reduce disruptions caused by international crises.
Parliament Also Receives FDI Details
Along with information on foreign visit expenditure, the government also shared data related to foreign investment.According to the reply, India received approximately 381.8 billion US dollars in Foreign Direct Investment between April 2021 and December 2025.
The government believes that international engagement has contributed to improving investor confidence and expanding India’s economic partnerships.However, FDI inflows depend on multiple factors including domestic reforms, global economic conditions, investor sentiment, and international business opportunities.
Memorandums of Understanding Signed During Visits
The Ministry also submitted country wise information regarding Memorandums of Understanding signed during official visits.MoUs are agreements between governments, institutions, or organizations that establish a framework for future cooperation.
These agreements may relate to:
- Trade
- Education
- Healthcare
- Technology
- Defence
- Agriculture
- Renewable energy
- Space cooperation
- Cultural exchanges
- Skill development
Many MoUs serve as the foundation for future projects, although implementation usually takes place over several years.
Why Parliamentary Transparency Matters
The disclosure of expenditure in Parliament reflects the government’s accountability mechanism.Members of Parliament regularly seek information regarding public spending through questions raised during parliamentary sessions.
Ministries respond by providing official data, allowing citizens, researchers, journalists, and policymakers to better understand how public funds are being used.Such disclosures also help maintain transparency in government functioning and enable informed public discussion.
Understanding the Numbers
The reported expenditure should be understood within the broader context of international diplomacy.Official visits by heads of government are different from ordinary travel. They involve high level security, official delegations, diplomatic meetings, and logistical arrangements across multiple countries.
While the expenditure may appear significant, governments often argue that successful diplomatic engagement can create long term economic and strategic benefits through increased investment, stronger trade relationships, technology partnerships, and geopolitical cooperation.
At the same time, public disclosure allows citizens to evaluate government spending based on available facts rather than speculation.
Key Takeaways
Here are the main points shared by the government.
- The Union Government informed Parliament that ₹74.59 crore was spent on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits between February and July 2026.
- Total expenditure on overseas visits since 2021 has exceeded ₹550 crore.
- Norway recorded the highest reported expenditure among the listed countries at ₹17.46 crore.
- Some expenditure figures remain provisional and may change after final settlement of bills.
- The Ministry of External Affairs said the visits helped strengthen cooperation in technology, trade, investment, defence, energy, and resilient supply chains.
- India also received around 381.8 billion US dollars in FDI between April 2021 and December 2025, according to information shared in Parliament.
Conclusion
The latest figures presented in the Rajya Sabha provide an official overview of government spending on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits during the first half of 2026. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, these visits are aimed at advancing India’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic interests through stronger international partnerships.
While the reported expenditure has attracted public attention, the government maintains that overseas engagements contribute to long term national objectives such as attracting investment, expanding trade, strengthening defence cooperation, promoting technology partnerships, and improving India’s global presence.
As some financial figures remain provisional, the final expenditure for certain visits may be updated after the settlement of pending bills. Until then, the data shared in Parliament offers the most recent official picture of spending on the Prime Minister’s foreign engagements.
FAQ
Q1.How much was spent on PM Modi’s foreign visits between February and July 2026?
According to the Union Government, approximately ₹74.59 crore was spent on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits during this period.
Q2.How much has been spent on PM Modi’s foreign visits since 2021?
The Ministry of External Affairs informed Parliament that the cumulative expenditure has crossed ₹550 crore since 2021.
Q3.Which country recorded the highest expenditure in 2026?
Among the countries listed, Norway had the highest reported expenditure at ₹17.46 crore.
Q4.Are all the expenditure figures final?
No. The government stated that expenses related to France and some countries visited during the May 2026 tour are provisional and may change after final bill settlement.
Q5.Why does the government conduct these foreign visits?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visits help strengthen India’s cooperation in trade, investment, technology, defence, energy, and other strategic sectors while enhancing bilateral and global partnerships.
