US President Barack Obama with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. (Associated Press)
US president Barack Obama is at Hyderabad House in Delhi for bilateral talks and a working lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Obama arrived on a three-day visit this morning and was given a 21-gun salute in a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Here are the latest developments in this story:
President Obama and his wife Michelle landed in Delhi a little before 10 this morning. In a departure from protocol, PM Modi received them at the airport. He greeted President Obama with a hug and the leaders shook hands.
At the Rashtrapati Bhawan Mr Obama greeted President Pranab Mukhejee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a namaste. "I am grateful for the extraordinary hospitality, it's a great honour to be back in India," the US president said.
He inspected a Guard of Honour led by a woman officer of the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Puja Thakur.
President Obama has been invited by PM Modi to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow. He will be the first US president to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade. He is also the first US president to visit India twice.
This afternoon, he also visited Rajghat where he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and planted a sapling. Asked about his reception in India so far, Mr Obama said, "It's hard to match this one."
The two leaders will hold an expanded delegation level meeting at Hyderabad House. A one-on-one walk is also planned. With progress in talks on a stalled nuclear deal, India is optimistic that a key breakthrough will be made, officials said.
The US President will attend a state banquet hosted by President Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. Sources said 250 guests have been invited for the banquet.
After the Republic Day parade at Delhi's Rajpath tomorrow, the Obamas will attend an 'at home' reception hosted by President Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Obama and PM Modi will also participate in a CEO forum roundtable and address the US-India Business Summit.
On Tuesday, the US President will give an address at the Siri Fort Auditorium before leaving for Saudi Arabia. He cancelled a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
A little after he arrived in India the White House tweeted, "President Obama is honored to be back in #India to celebrate Republic Day and to begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership. Jai Hind!" The president's car, called the beast, has both the US and the Indian flags on it today.
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