MEA says PM Modi's 77 foreign visits since 2021 cost ₹557.51 crore; Israel trip alone ₹11.92 crore

The Ministry of External Affairs disclosed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits from 2021 to July 2026 have cost the government ₹557.51 crore, with 77 countries visited during this period. The February 2026 Israel trip alone incurred expenses of ₹11.92 crore.¹²³⁴

Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita noted that these visits resulted in 316 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), fostering international partnerships across various sectors. Notably, 44 MoUs were signed with the UAE, 33 with France, 16 with Israel, and 8 with the U.S.

The government also reported an overall FDI inflow of $381.8 billion during this timeframe. However, MP Sivanandan raised concerns regarding the nature of agreements, particularly with the U.S., suggesting they primarily serve American interests. Dr. Sivadasan emphasized that the success of foreign visits should be evaluated based on tangible outcomes, such as projects implemented, investments secured, and jobs created, rather than merely the number of countries visited or MoUs signed.

The government spent ₹4.77 crore for Modi's visit to France and the Slovak Republic in May 2026, and ₹8.22 crore for the Seychelles visit in June 2026. Additionally, ₹25.59 crore was spent on a joint visit to France and the U.S. in February 2025.