The Centre has disclosed that expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s overseas visits since 2021 has crossed ₹550 crore, with spending rising sharply after the pandemic. Foreign travel expenses in 2026 have already crossed ₹74.58 crore, while the Norway visit emerged as the costliest trip recorded so far this year.
The Union government has disclosed fresh details of expenditure incurred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits, putting the cumulative spending since 2021 at more than ₹550 crore.
The figures were shared by the Ministry of External Affairs in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, bringing renewed attention to the cost of the Prime Minister’s international engagements. Modi’s overseas travel has frequently generated political debate, with critics questioning public expenditure and the government highlighting diplomacy, trade, strategic partnerships and international cooperation as key objectives of such visits.
PM Modi Foreign Trips Cost Rises After Pandemic
According to figures presented by the government, expenditure on the Prime Minister’s overseas visits has risen significantly since the pandemic years. Spending stood at more than ₹36 crore in 2021 and increased to over ₹55 crore in 2022.
The expenditure climbed further to around ₹93 crore in 2023 and more than ₹109 crore in 2024 as India’s high-level diplomatic engagement expanded after COVID-19 travel restrictions eased.
The annual bill crossed ₹180 crore in 2025, making it the highest yearly expenditure during the period covered by the latest disclosure. The increase coincided with a busy international schedule involving bilateral meetings, major multilateral summits and strategic engagements with several countries.
PM Modi Foreign Travel Spending Crosses ₹74 Crore In 2026
The Ministry of External Affairs said spending on Modi’s foreign travel has crossed ₹74.58 crore so far in 2026. Some of the expenditure remains provisional, while expenses related to certain visits are yet to be finalised.
The Prime Minister has continued an active overseas schedule this year, travelling for bilateral discussions, international summits and meetings focused on areas ranging from trade and technology to defence, energy and strategic cooperation.
Among the visits for which expenditure has been compiled in 2026, the Norway leg of Modi’s European tour in May was the most expensive, costing approximately ₹17.46 crore.
PM Modi Foreign Visits Include Agreements Across Key Sectors
The government has argued that overseas visits should also be viewed in the context of diplomatic and economic outcomes. According to the MEA, hundreds of agreements and MoUs have been signed during the Prime Minister’s foreign visits since 2021.
These engagements have covered areas such as defence, artificial intelligence, digital technology, semiconductors, renewable energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, space cooperation, mobility, migration and climate action.
The Prime Minister’s foreign itinerary typically includes meetings with heads of state and government, participation in international summits, talks with business leaders, interactions with the Indian diaspora and discussions on bilateral and global issues.
PM Modi Foreign Trip Expenses Cover Security And Logistics
The expenditure associated with an official prime ministerial visit goes beyond airfare. Such costs can include aircraft and transportation arrangements, accommodation for official delegations, security requirements, communication infrastructure, advance teams, protocol arrangements, venues and other logistical expenses.
With India expanding its diplomatic engagement across regions, the cost of prime ministerial foreign travel is likely to remain under public and parliamentary scrutiny. The latest disclosure provides a clearer picture of how expenditure has changed since 2021 while also highlighting the scale of India’s high-level international engagement.
