New Delhi, April 21: On Monday morning, U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi for his first official tour to India, which would last four days. The Vice President, his wife, Usha Vance, of Indian origin, and their three children will engage in several cultural, diplomatic, and ceremonial activities from April 21 to 24.
Vance departed from Ciampino Airport in Rome on Sunday evening aboard Air Force Two after a brief private family visit to Italy. The aircraft landed at Air Force Station Palam, New Delhi, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Indian government officials formally received him at 10:00 a.m. During his visit, he will stay at the ITC Maurya Sheraton. Welcoming hoardings were put up near Palam Airport and in New Delhi’s diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri.
The highlight of the first day is a high-level meeting between Vice President Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. A formal dinner hosted by PM Modi will follow, and key cabinet ministers such as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and senior BJP leaders are expected to attend. According to officials familiar with the matter, the leaders will discuss pressing bilateral matters, including negotiations on a trade agreement and President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which are currently on pause until July.
“This is an official visit. He will be meeting the Prime Minister. And with the United States of America, we have a comprehensive strategic global partnership,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated last Thursday. “All relevant issues will be discussed, and we are confident that the visit will provide a further boost to India-US bilateral ties.”
The Vice President and his family began their India trip with a visit to the iconic Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi. They then stopped at a shopping complex that features traditional Indian handcrafted goods.
Following the formal engagements in Delhi, the vice president’s itinerary shifts to cultural immersion. On Monday night, the family will depart for Jaipur, where they will be welcomed by Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the state governor. Their stay has been arranged at the luxurious Rambagh Palace.
On Tuesday, April 22, Vance will tour prominent Jaipur landmarks, including Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, and Hawa Mahal. He is also slated to deliver a speech at the Rajasthan International Centre, followed by meetings with local political and business leaders. Later in the evening, he will meet with Chief Minister Sharma and the Governor for a closed-door discussion.
On April 23, Vance and his family will travel to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, a crafts village famous for its Indian art and handicrafts. These visits aim to strengthen the cultural ties between the two democracies and showcase India’s rich heritage. The Vice President’s tour of India concludes on Thursday, April 24, with a departure scheduled for 6:40 AM.
The White House, in a prior statement, emphasized that Vice President Vance’s visit aims to reinforce shared economic and geopolitical priorities between the two nations. While only one official meeting with Prime Minister Modi has been publicly confirmed, the visit underlines the continued importance of the India-US partnership amid evolving global dynamics.
As India and the United States continue to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership, this visit by Vice President Vance signals Washington’s intent to maintain robust ties with New Delhi across economic, cultural, and political domains
