An RTI reply has thrown fresh light on the Centre’s publicity machine, showing that the Union government spent about Rs 2,586 crore on advertisements promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2020 and 2026. The figure has once again raised eyebrows over the scale of government spending on image-building across media platforms.
According to the disclosure, the spending covered digital media, social media, television, radio, print and hoardings. The data was provided by the Central Bureau of Communication under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after an RTI request was filed on June 1.
What The Numbers Show
The total amount works out to Rs 25,86,00,00,000, a sum that is likely to fuel a fresh political debate over how public money is being used. The RTI response breaks down expenditure year by year, showing how the ad budget has been deployed over the six-year period.
The revelation is not happening in a vacuum. Past RTI disclosures have also shown large sums being spent by the Modi government on publicity and advertising, making this latest figure part of a long-running pattern rather than an isolated shock.
Political Questions Rise Again
Critics are expected to ask whether such spending is justified at a time when voters increasingly demand accountability and value for money. Supporters, on the other hand, may argue that a large government requires a large communication budget to inform citizens about policies and programmes.
Still, the size of the figure makes it politically explosive. In an era where every rupee spent by the state is under scrutiny, a multi-crore publicity bill is bound to become a talking point in Parliament and beyond.
A Familiar Debate Returns
This is not the first time the Modi government’s advertisement spending has drawn attention. Earlier RTI-based reports also pointed to large publicity outlays in previous years, with figures running into thousands of crores.
That history gives the latest disclosure extra weight. It suggests a continuing preference for high-visibility communication, and it will likely keep the debate alive over whether this is effective governance outreach or expensive self-promotion.
Why It Matters
Publicity spending is often defended as a way to spread awareness about schemes, welfare measures and official decisions. But when the numbers get this large, the line between information and promotion starts to blur for many readers.
For now, the RTI has done what such disclosures often do best: it has turned a budget line into a political story. And with the amount now in public view, the argument over government advertising is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
