A Right to Information (RTI) reply has revealed that the Union government spent nearly ₹2,586 crore on advertisements promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2020 and 2026.
The information was obtained by Saket Gokhale, who filed the RTI on June 1 seeking details of government expenditure on advertisements across television, radio, print, digital platforms, social media, and outdoor hoardings.
The reply was issued by the Central Bureau of Communication on June 16.
₹25.86 Billion of Public Money Spent
According to Gokhale, the total amount spent was ₹25,86,00,00,000, which he said came directly from taxpayers’ money.
“This is not a small figure. It is public money spent on promoting one individual,” Gokhale said while reacting to the disclosure.
He also pointed out that the RTI covers spending by only one government agency and does not include other ministries, public sector undertakings (PSUs), or political party advertisements.
“This is only one agency. The real figure could be much higher,” he said.
Print Media Spending Sees Sharp Rise
The RTI data shows that the government spent around ₹796 crore on print advertisements between 2020 and 2026.
The highest spending in print media came in the financial year 2025-26, when nearly ₹338 crore was spent.
This was four times higher than the ₹83.16 crore spent in the previous year.
Gokhale called the rise “shocking” and questioned the timing of the spike.
₹936 Crore Spent on TV and Radio
The government also spent approximately ₹936 crore on radio and television advertisements during the same period.
These advertisements included campaigns and promotional content highlighting government achievements and leadership messaging.
The RTI shows that TV and radio remain major platforms for official outreach.
Outdoor Ads Cross ₹583 Crore
Spending on outdoor advertisements such as hoardings and banners stood at ₹583.97 crore from 2020 to 2026.
The numbers show a significant jump in the years around the general elections.
While only ₹32.76 crore was spent in 2022-23, this rose sharply to ₹162.21 crore in 2023-24.
In just the first six months of the current financial year 2026-27, outdoor ad spending has already touched ₹2.76 crore.
Digital Spending Increased Nearly Ten Times
The RTI data also highlights a major rise in digital and social media advertising.
Government spending on “new media” rose from ₹14 crore in 2020-21 to ₹131.35 crore in 2025-26.
This marks almost a tenfold increase in six years.
Gokhale said the increasing digital spending shows how government publicity strategies have shifted heavily towards online platforms.
Agencies Receiving Funds Not Disclosed
One of the major concerns raised by Gokhale was that the government refused to disclose which advertising agencies or media houses received the ₹2,586 crore.
The CBC cited “commercial confidence” as the reason for withholding the information.
Gokhale criticised the lack of transparency and alleged that the government spends huge public funds on publicity while hiding where the money goes.
He also accused the BJP leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, of influencing media narratives through government advertising.
