India Reports ₹557.51 Crore Expenditure on PM Modi’s 77 Global Missions Since 2021
Official data released by the Ministry of External Affairs details significant spending and 316 diplomatic agreements signed during the Prime Minister's recent international travels. The financial disclosures accompany a reported $381.8 billion in foreign direct investment inflows during the same pe
Key takeaways
- The Indian government spent ₹557.51 crore on 77 foreign visits by Prime Minister Modi between 2021 and July 2026.
- A total of 316 MoUs were signed during these visits, primarily with the UAE, France, Israel, and the United States.
- India recorded $381.8 billion in FDI inflows during the timeframe these diplomatic missions occurred.
- Opposition MP V. Sivadasan argued for measuring visit success by tangible job creation and project implementation rather than total spend or MoUs.
Diplomatic Expenditures and Bilateral Agreements
Between 2021 and July 2026, the Indian government allocated approximately ₹557.51 crore to facilitate 77 foreign visits undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita provided these figures to the Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2027, in response to inquiries from CPI(M) member V. Sivadasan.
A 35-page ministerial report highlights specific high-cost missions, including a ₹25.59 crore visit to France in February 2025 and an ₹11.92 crore trip to Israel in February 2026. Other expenditures included ₹16.54 crore for a United States visit, ₹8.22 crore for a mission to Seychelles, and ₹4.77 crore for travel covering France and the Slovak Republic in May 2026.
Strategic Outcomes and FDI Data
The Ministry of External Affairs linked these diplomatic efforts to the signing of 316 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across various sectors. The UAE emerged as the primary partner with 44 agreements, followed by France with 33, Israel with 16, and the United States with 8. During this five-year window, India recorded a total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of $381.8 billion.
Specific agreements with Israel included collaboration with the Israel Security Service and the integration of India's UPI system onto the MASAV platform. While the government frames these visits as essential for building international partnerships, opposition lawmakers have voiced concerns regarding the nature of the deals.
Legislative Critique
Dr. Sivadasan challenged the metrics used to define diplomatic success, arguing that the volume of countries visited or agreements signed is less significant than tangible economic results. He specifically alleged that agreements with the United States leaned toward American strategic interests and called for a rigorous assessment based on job creation, project implementation, and India's global standing.
Key Facts
- Total expenditure for 77 foreign visits reached ₹557.51 crore from 2021 to mid-2026.
- A total of 316 MoUs were finalized, with the highest concentration signed with the UAE (44) and France (33).
- Total FDI inflow during this specific period amounted to $381.8 billion.
- Significant single-trip costs included ₹25.59 crore for a 2025 France visit and ₹11.92 crore for a 2026 Israel visit.
- Technical cooperation with Israel included the MASAV platform and security service agreements.
Source: The Hindu — National
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