President Barack Obama has joined PM Narendra Modi to attend India’s annual Republic Day parade in Delhi.
Barack Obama is the first US president to attend India’s parade, on the second day of his visit.
The president arrived in India on January 25 for a three-day visit seen as a sign of warming ties between the two countries.
On Sunday, both sides announced a breakthrough on a pact that will allow US companies to supply India with civilian nuclear technology.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a “new journey” of co-operation
Barack Obama will meet the main opposition Congress party leaders later on Monday and will also speak at a business summit.
India’s Republic Day marks the adoption of the country’s constitution in 1950, three years after independence from Britain.
Uniformed soldiers in colorful headgear marched down Rajpath, or King’s Avenue, where Barack Obama watched the parade with Narendra Modi inside a bullet-proof glass enclosure.
Helicopters showered petals on the crowds and brass bands and dancers filed past the guests on a foggy and rain-hit morning.
Barack Obama received a warm welcome on Sunday when Narendra Modi greeted him at the airport with a bear hug.
The two men spent several hours discussing defense and trade ties, and then announced the breakthrough on the civilian nuclear deal.
The pact was agreed in 2008 but has been held up for six years because of differences over the liability US firms would face in India in the event of a nuclear accident.
Now a large insurance pool will be set up, without the need for any further legislation.
The two sides have also pledged to increase their bilateral trade five-fold, from the current $100 billion a year, and build co-operation on defense projects.
Barack Obama’s visit to India has been shortened so he can visit Saudi Arabia and pay his respects following the death of King Abdullah.
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President Barack Obama has arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit to India amid an unprecedented security operation.
Thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Delhi along with some 15,000 cameras.
India’s PM Narendra Modi stressed the importance of the visit by breaking with protocol to meet and bear-hug Barack Obama personally at New Delhi airport.
Their talks will primarily focus on trade, but also take in security, nuclear power and climate change.
Barack Obama will also be the guest of honor at Monday’s Republic Day celebrations.
After his arrival, Barack Obama travelled to the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan, for an official welcoming ceremony with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.
Barack Obama said: “This is a great honor, we are grateful for this extraordinary hospitality.”
The president will also lay a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial and later attend a state dinner.
Photo AFP/PIB
He is being accompanied by a delegation of US business leaders for the important trade talks.
In his talks with Narendra Modi, he is also expected to discuss co-operation on climate change and nuclear energy, concerns over security in South Asia and counter-terrorism measures.
Barack Obama will join Narendra Modi in his monthly radio address to reach out to millions of Indians with no access to television.
Security around the Republic Day parade is generally tight, but this year the high-profile visit has taken preparations to a new level.
India Gate and the Rajpath (the King’s Avenue), where Monday’s parade takes place, have been out of bounds for most people for the past few days, with thousands of policemen on duty.
Security has been upgraded at several up-market hotels, where President Barack Obama and his team will be staying.
Traffic restrictions have been put in place across the city, and extra checks have been taking place at metro stations.
Police have also been going door-to-door carrying out verification checks on residents.
Security has also been tightened at airports, ports and railways stations across India.
This is the first time a sitting US president has returned to India for a second visit – a sign of growing India-US ties.
The new US ambassador in Delhi, Richard Verma, said there was “no question this is a defining time in the US-India relationship.”
Barack Obama’s visit to India has been shortened so he can visit Saudi Arabia and pay his respects following the death of King Abdullah. It means he will not now visit the Taj Mahal.
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