A recent State Department report unveiled a series of valuable gifts given by Indian leaders to prominent US officials. Among these gifts was a $7,750 sterling silver train set presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to then-President Joe Biden, later transferred to the National Archives. The report, issued by the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol, detailed gifts reported to agencies for the calendar year 2024, with a minimal value set at $480.00.
For the White House, the report highlighted various items from PM Modi to President Biden. One entry mentioned Biden receiving a “Wood Chest, Scarf, Saffron with Jar, Wood Box for Tea” on 9/10/2023, valued at $562.00, all of which were transferred to the National Archives. Another entry noted Biden receiving a “Sterling Silver Metal Train Set” on 7/16/2024, valued at $7,750.00.
Additionally, the report listed a gift from PM Modi to First Lady Jill Biden, a “Pashmina Shawl” received on 10/21/2024, valued at $2,969.00 and transferred to the National Archives. It also detailed a gift from India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, to the president’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, which was a “Kashmir Pashmina Scarf with Box” valued at $599.00 and transferred to GSA.
Furthermore, the report included gifts to Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff from PM Modi. Harris received a “Lord Krishna Raas Leela Silver Box” on 10/18/2024, valued at $1,330.00, while Emhoff received “Cufflinks” on the same date, valued at $585.65, both items transferred to the National Archives.
Lastly, an India-related entry under the Department of Defense highlighted a gift from India’s defense minister, Rajnath Singh, to then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which was a “Shiva Nataraja Bronze Statue” valued at $3,700.00. The report emphasized that agencies are accountable for the information they provide, covering tangible gifts and travel expenses above minimal value, with some older gifts included due to delayed information.
