Archive · 6 Aug 2026
PM Modi's Foreign Visit Spending Compared With Manmohan Singh's Tenure
The Prime Minister of India travels to other countries to meet their leaders and talk about trade and friendship.
Some people in Parliament asked how much money these trips cost.
The government shared the numbers, and the trips in 2026 so far cost about 74.5 crore rupees.
Some people said that is too much money to spend.
They pointed out that a one-day trip to Norway cost more than 17 crore rupees.
But others say the cost includes the plane, security, and helpers, not just the ticket.
They compared it with the older prime minister, Manmohan Singh, who took 73 trips in ten years.
His plane tickets alone cost about 795 crore rupees.
Modi took more than 100 trips but spent about the same total.
The article says the money was not wasted because the trips help India make friends and bring business.
PM Modi's foreign visits in 2026 up to July cost around ₹74.5 crore, covering 13 countries including Malaysia, Israel, the UAE, Norway and Australia.
The expenditure data was tabled in Parliament in response to Rajya Sabha questions from AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI(M) MP Dr V Sivadasan.
Critics highlighted the one-day Norway leg of Modi's European tour, which cost more than ₹17 crore.
Former PM Manmohan Singh made 73 foreign visits between 2004 and 2014, with roughly ₹795.18 crore spent on air travel alone.
PM Modi made more than 100 overseas visits between 2015 and 2025, with cumulative expenditure estimated at around ₹800 crore.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, CPI(M) MP Dr V Sivadasan, and the Ministry of External Affairs.
- What
- A parliamentary disclosure of expenditure on PM Modi's foreign visits, compared with spending during Manmohan Singh's tenure.
- When
- Data disclosed in August 2026, covering visits in 2026 up to July, with comparisons spanning 2004 to 2025.
- Where
- India (data tabled in Parliament); 13 countries visited in 2026 including Malaysia, Israel, the UAE, Norway and Australia.
- Why
- Opposition MPs sought details on visit costs to scrutinise whether PM Modi's foreign travel amounts to extravagant spending of taxpayer money.
Critics of the spending
Government and supporters
Cost of individual visits
Critics of the spending
The one-day Norway leg costing over ₹17 crore shows PM Modi's foreign trips are extravagant taxpayer-funded junkets.
Government and supporters
The figure includes charter aircraft, security, delegations and logistics across a multi-country tour, so singling out one leg is misleading.
Comparison with Manmohan Singh's tenure
Critics of the spending
Critics emphasise isolated current figures, such as the Norway cost, rather than considering the full itinerary and long-term comparisons.
Government and supporters
Singh made 73 visits with ~₹795.18 crore on air travel alone, while Modi made 100+ visits for ~₹800 crore, so spending is comparable or lower.
Value of foreign visits
Critics of the spending
The visits are wasteful expenditure that burdens taxpayers.
Government and supporters
Visits support trade, defence and technology partnerships, and India received US$381.8 billion in FDI during April 2021-December 2025.
- 2026 foreign visit cost (Jan-Jul)
- ~₹74.5 crore
- Countries visited in 2026
- 13, including Malaysia, Israel, UAE, Norway, Australia
- Norway leg cost
- Over ₹17 crore (one day)
- Manmohan Singh visits (2004-2014)
- 73 visits; ~₹795.18 crore on air travel alone
- PM Modi visits (2015-2025)
- More than 100 overseas visits
- PM Modi total visit expenditure (2015-2025)
- ~₹800 crore
- FDI received (Apr 2021-Dec 2025)
- US$381.8 billion
- Questions raised by
- AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI(M) MP Dr V Sivadasan