The High Cost of Unqualified Governance: Analyzing Modi’s Foreign Excursions and India’s 12-Year Decline

Prime Minister Modi’s extensive international travel has resulted in a massive expenditure exceeding ₹1,900 crore without a transparent Return on Investment (RoI). Analysts project that the resulting institutional decay and mounting public debt will require a 50-year recovery period to restore India’s democratic and economic health.

By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | June 14, 2026

In June 2026, Narendra Modi reached the political milestone of becoming India’s longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister. However, beneath the polished veneer of state-driven narratives and heavily managed public relations lies a devastating reality. This anniversary does not mark a era of progress, but rather the culmination of a 12-year period defined by documented national decline and the erosion of the very foundations of the Indian state.

The central crisis of this era is “The High Cost of Unqualified Governance.” In a modern, cut-throat global economy, managing the intricate machinery of a nation requires profound domain expertise. Yet, India finds itself in the unfortunate position of being managed by individuals with no specialized qualifications. This systemic lack of expertise in the highest offices of power is the primary reason India remains trapped as a poor, underdeveloped nation.

The stark reality of the past 12 years is evidenced by:

• Exploding National Debt: A fiscal burden reaching levels that threaten future generations.
• Foreign Capital Flight: A lack of domestic confidence causing investors to move assets abroad.
• Systemic Joblessness: A chronic failure to provide economic dignity to the workforce.
• Erosion of Democratic Institutions: The systematic weakening of constitutional checks and balances.

This institutional decay has occurred alongside the most visible and expensive hallmark of the PM’s tenure: a relentless and controversial schedule of international travel.

The Economics of Diplomacy: A ₹1,900+ Crore Travel Bill

The Prime Minister’s international itinerary has moved beyond diplomatic necessity into the realm of extreme public and opposition scrutiny. Between May 2014 and 2018, parliamentary disclosures revealed an expenditure of ₹1,484 crore. Subsequent data from 2021 through 2025 shows an additional ₹462+ crore spent on chartered flights, maintenance, and communication facilities.

  With over ₹1,900 crore spent on foreign travel and a 50-year recovery timeline for national institutions, the cost of unqualified governance is a debt India’s children will be forced to pay.

A snapshot of this activity was seen in the June 13–18, 2026 itinerary, which included stops in Nice (France), the Slovak Republic, Evian (France), and Paris. These excursions are frequently dismissed by critics as nothing more than the “fun trips” of a leader desperately seeking an identity on foreign soil. A “So What?” analysis of this expenditure reveals a total absence of Return on Investment (RoI). Instead of securing national interests, the administration is accused of squandering public money on foreign products and services that India does not require.

This lavish spending is often linked to the cementing of crony capitalism. The purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation serves as a damning case study. It is widely alleged that this decision was taken arbitrarily by PM Modi during a tour of France specifically to provide undue monetary benefit to one of his corporate friends. This suggests that the PM functions less as a statesman and more as a marketing agent for corporate interests, using the national exchequer to subsidize private gain.

  Foreign leaders see a “foolish buyer” in a Prime Minister who trades billions in national wealth for cheap publicity. India needs domain expertise, not marketing agents for corporate friends.

Competence and Credentials: The Literacy and Accountability Debate

In global statesmanship, intellectual depth is the minimum requirement for entry. However, the Prime Minister’s personal competence and academic background remain subjects of intense national embarrassment. Critics argue he is perhaps the most naïve and illiterate Prime Minister India has ever seen—a “bumpkin” unable to engage with any modern, intellectual subject.

The controversy surrounding his educational qualifications remains unresolved. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has pointedly questioned whether the PM ever attended a university, while Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that the academic degrees presented to the public are fraudulent. These claims suggest a fundamental lack of the intellectual foundation required to manage a complex nuclear power.

The communication barriers are equally stark. Then West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee observed that the PM cannot speak a single line of English properly and relies entirely on a teleprompter to deliver speeches written by others. Without these technological crutches, his utterances are often described as meaningless. This lack of accountability is best exemplified by his record over the last 12 years: he has held only one press conference, during which he sat “like a statue,” refusing to respond to a single question.

This perceived “inferiority complex” has international consequences. Foreign leaders and corporate entities do not court the Prime Minister out of respect for his vision; instead, they see a “foolish buyer.” They recognize a leader willing to squander billions of dollars on unnecessary imports just to gain cheap publicity and a photo-op on foreign land.

The Structural Legacy: A 50-Year Recovery Horizon

The long-term consequences of institutional decay and wealth inequality are profound. The structural damage inflicted over the past 12 years cannot be undone by a mere change in leadership. RMN News research projections indicate that even under optimal future governance, it will take India nearly 50 years to recover its institutional health, stabilize public debt, and re-establish a transparent democracy.

The structural damage includes:

1. Destruction of Institutional Independence: The systematic subversion of the autonomy of democratic bodies.
2. Cementing of Crony Capitalism: The institutionalization of favoritism that prioritizes corporate friends over the public good.
3. Massive Public Debt: A fiscal deficit that hampers the distribution of wealth and future development.

To prevent further decline, India must move away from the cult of personality and marketing. The nation requires specialized expertise and qualified leadership to begin the half-century journey toward recovery.

This article is part of our ongoing research on Narendra Modi under the title: “Narendra Modi: Twelve Years of Misrule and the Illusion of Growth?“

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of the humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.