In a rare public intervention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday firmly rejected reports claiming that the Centre was considering imposing a tax or surcharge on foreign travel due to rising crude oil prices and fiscal pressure linked to tensions in West Asia.
The clarification came after a media report suggested the government was discussing a temporary levy on overseas travel to manage the economic impact of volatile global oil prices. Responding directly on X, PM Modi dismissed the claims outright.
“This is totally false. Not an iota of truth in this,” the Prime Minister wrote, adding that there was “no question” of imposing restrictions on Indians travelling abroad.
The strong rebuttal quickly ended speculation surrounding possible curbs or additional taxation on international travel. Shortly after PM Modi’s statement, CNBC-TV18 withdrew its report and acknowledged the error publicly.
“Our story on government considering tax/cess on foreign travel is not accurate. We withdraw the story and regret the error,” the channel posted on X.
The Prime Minister also reiterated that the government remained committed to improving “Ease of Doing Business” and “Ease of Living” rather than introducing new financial burdens on citizens.
The speculation had triggered debate amid concerns over rising fuel prices and the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements and remains vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy markets.
Meanwhile, PM Modi, who is currently on a five-nation tour, visited the United Arab Emirates on Friday for talks with the UAE President. During the visit, India and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Petroleum Reserves aimed at strengthening India’s energy security and ensuring stable crude oil supplies during periods of global uncertainty.
