The Crossbill News Desk
Government data tabled in Parliament has shed light on the expenditure incurred on the Prime Minister’s overseas engagements over the past decade.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday (February 13, 2026), the Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) disclosed that foreign visits undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2015 and 2025 cost the exchequer Rs 762 crores, The Hindu reported.
The figures indicate a sharp rise in annual spending in recent years. While the expenditure on these visits crossed Rs 100 crore in 2024, it exceeded Rs 175 crores in 2025, a year marked by extensive travel across Europe, the Americas, Africa and East Asia, including long-haul and multi-nation tours.
The MEA clarified that during foreign visits the Prime Minister is treated as a guest of the receiving country, which bears substantial hospitality expenses. India’s expenditure includes costs related to the official delegation, security arrangements, media contingent and logistical support.
According to the reply, the size of the Prime Minister’s delegation since May 2014 generally ranged between 27 and 72 members depending on functional requirements, with a five-country visit in 2025 involving 95 officials.
Spending remained relatively modest in the immediate post-pandemic period but rose steadily as bilateral engagements and multilateral summits intensified.
Documents cited in the response suggest that the lowest outlay occurred in the period following the Covid-19 disruptions, before climbing again as international travel and diplomatic engagements resumed at scale.
The government also cited earlier PM visits for reference, stating they cost Rs 10.74 crore for the US in 2011, Rs 9.95 crore for Russia in 2013, Rs 8.33 crore for France in 2011 and Rs 6.02 crore for Germany in 2013, without adjusting for inflation or currency fluctuations.
The MEA’s response also showed that the Manmohan Singh government spent much lesser than these trips – Rs 10.74 crore for the US in 2011, Rs 9.95 crore for Russia in 2013, Rs 8.33 crore for France in 2011 and Rs 6.02 crore for Germany in 2013 – but added that the increase in spending was because of inflation, currency fluctuations, and factors like the number of countries covered, travel distance, security requirements and delegation size.
Officials said expenditure varies mainly on account of the number of countries covered, travel distance, security requirements and delegation size.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday (February 13, 2026), the Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) disclosed that foreign visits undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2015 and 2025 cost the exchequer Rs 762 crores, The Hindu reported.
The figures indicate a sharp rise in annual spending in recent years. While the expenditure on these visits crossed Rs 100 crore in 2024, it exceeded Rs 175 crores in 2025, a year marked by extensive travel across Europe, the Americas, Africa and East Asia, including long-haul and multi-nation tours.
The MEA clarified that during foreign visits the Prime Minister is treated as a guest of the receiving country, which bears substantial hospitality expenses. India’s expenditure includes costs related to the official delegation, security arrangements, media contingent and logistical support.
According to the reply, the size of the Prime Minister’s delegation since May 2014 generally ranged between 27 and 72 members depending on functional requirements, with a five-country visit in 2025 involving 95 officials.
Spending remained relatively modest in the immediate post-pandemic period but rose steadily as bilateral engagements and multilateral summits intensified.
Documents cited in the response suggest that the lowest outlay occurred in the period following the Covid-19 disruptions, before climbing again as international travel and diplomatic engagements resumed at scale.
The government also cited earlier PM visits for reference, stating they cost Rs 10.74 crore for the US in 2011, Rs 9.95 crore for Russia in 2013, Rs 8.33 crore for France in 2011 and Rs 6.02 crore for Germany in 2013, without adjusting for inflation or currency fluctuations.
The MEA’s response also showed that the Manmohan Singh government spent much lesser than these trips – Rs 10.74 crore for the US in 2011, Rs 9.95 crore for Russia in 2013, Rs 8.33 crore for France in 2011 and Rs 6.02 crore for Germany in 2013 – but added that the increase in spending was because of inflation, currency fluctuations, and factors like the number of countries covered, travel distance, security requirements and delegation size.
Officials said expenditure varies mainly on account of the number of countries covered, travel distance, security requirements and delegation size.
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