NEW DELHI: The details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign trips and the expenses incurred on them have been disclosed in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, presented the information on Thursday, revealing expenditure on visits to the US, Europe, and other countries over the past three years.
According to the official data, a total of over ₹177 crore was spent on 38 foreign trips undertaken by the Prime Minister between 2022 and 2024. The expenses covered accommodation, logistics, security, and media representation.
Highest Spending on the US, Japan, and Europe Trips
Among the most expensive visits, PM Modi’s trip to the United States in June 2023 cost ₹32.58 crore, while the Japan visit in May 2023 incurred ₹19.33 crore in expenses. Similarly, the July 2023 visit to France cost ₹13.74 crore, covering travel, security, and other logistical arrangements.
Other high-expenditure trips included:
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Germany (June 2022): ₹14.47 crore
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Japan (May 2022): ₹16.42 crore
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Egypt (June 2023): ₹2.69 crore
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Indonesia (November 2022): ₹4.69 crore
The lowest spending was recorded for PM Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea in May 2023, which cost around ₹8.58 crore.
Breakdown of Expenses
The expenditures for each trip were divided into multiple categories, including:
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Accommodation costs for the PM and accompanying officials
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Security and hardware expenses for protection
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Travel logistics, including special aircraft arrangements
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Miscellaneous costs, including event organization and media coverage
For example, the Germany visit in June 2022 included ₹4.76 crore for travel and ₹5.61 crore for accommodation, while the Japan visit in May 2022 had ₹16.98 crore spent on security and ₹2.88 crore on travel logistics.
Recent Foreign Visits in 2024
In 2024 alone, PM Modi’s foreign visits to countries like Bhutan, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Brazil cost over ₹71 crore. Some of the significant expenses include:
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Italy (April 2024): ₹14.36 crore
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Russia (July 2024): ₹5.34 crore
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Brazil (September 2024): ₹5.51 crore
Political Reactions & Transparency
The disclosure of PM Modi’s travel expenses has sparked political debates, with opposition leaders questioning the high costs amid economic challenges. However, the government maintains that these visits are crucial for strengthening diplomatic ties and attracting foreign investments.
The data has been made public as part of the government’s commitment to transparency regarding official expenditures.