762 crore spent on PM Modi’s foreign visits in 10 years, MEA tells Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revealed that Rs 762 crore was spent on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits over the past 10 years. The information was shared in a written reply submitted in the Lok Sabha. The MEA explained the expenses of the Prime Minister's foreign trips and details of the delegations that accompanied him. According to the ministry, the annual expenditure on foreign visits crossed Rs 100 crore in 2024. In 2025, when Modi visited European countries, the United States, Africa, and East Asia, the spending exceeded Rs 175 crore.

The ministry clarified that most hospitality expenses during such visits are borne by the host country. The Indian government mainly spends money on security arrangements, official delegates, media teams, and other logistical requirements.

Since May 2014, the number of members in the Prime Minister’s delegation has ranged between 27 and 72, depending on the nature of the visit. In 2025, during a trip covering five countries, the delegation included 95 members. The records show that the government spent the least on foreign travel during the post-COVID period. However, expenses increased in the following years due to more bilateral and multilateral engagements.

The reply also stated that foreign travel expenses were significantly lower during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. For example, Rs 10.74 crore was spent on a US visit in 2011, Rs 9.95 crore on a Russia visit in 2013, Rs 8.33 crore on a France visit in 2011, and Rs 6.02 crore on a Germany visit in 2013.

The MEA added that the rise in expenses in recent years is due to factors such as inflation, currency fluctuations, the number of countries visited, travel distance, security arrangements, and the size of the delegation.