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

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. Download the TOI app.