1 week ago

Himachal Government Reports Rs 21.38 Crore Foreign-Visit Spending

The Himachal Pradesh government said it spent about Rs 21.38 crore on foreign visits.

These trips took place from January 2023 to July 2025.

Ministers, lawmakers, officials, teachers and students took part.

Some trips were paid for by the central government or development organisations.

One large programme sent teachers and students to Singapore and Cambodia.

Other visits studied ropeways, electric buses, farming and city planning.

The government said the trips were meant to learn new ideas and attract investment.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu gave the information to the state Assembly.

Key facts

Total expenditure: Rs 21,38,09,284, or approximately Rs 21.38 crore
Disclosure: Written reply by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly
Reporting period: January 2023 to July 2025
Largest listed component: Rs 11.91 crore for foreign educational visits under the Samagra Shiksha STAR Project
Dubai visit: Rs 11.73 lakh for Sukhu's December 13-16, 2023 investment-focused tour
Ropeway delegation: Rs 37.72 lakh for a visit led by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri to Austria and Switzerland
External funding: Some costs were fully or partly covered by the central government, Asian Development Bank, Korea Rural Community Corporation and other programmes

indianexpress.com · 1 week ago