JD Vance goes for ‘Darshan’ at Akshardham Temple
The four-day visit of Mr J D Vance, Vice-president of USA to India is scheduled from April 21 to 24. He will also travel to Jaipur on April 22 and Agra on April 23.
In Jaipur, Vance and his family will stay at the historic Rambagh Palace and visit notable sites such as the Amer Fort.
Vance arrived in New Delhi on April 21, 2025, marking his first official visit to India since assuming office.
He was accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, who has Indian roots, and their three children—Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel.
Vice President Vance was received at Palam Airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other officials, and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. Security in Delhi was notably heightened in anticipation of the visit.
The visit is part of ongoing negotiations to reduce the impact of tariffs imposed by Trump and the Counter action taken / likely to be taken by India.
The aim is to enhance bilateral trade, with an ambitious goal to double trade to INR 4250000 or USD 500 billion by 2030.
The visit also takes place when there is a huge ongoing US-China trade tensions. In this India positioned as a key trade partner in Asia for both China and the United States.
Shortly after their arrival, the Vance family visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi. There, they had the darshan of the replica of Lord Swaminarayan and admired the temple’s architecture.
The visit to Akshardham was followed by visit to shopping complex featuring traditional Indian handcrafted goods. The temple visit holds personal significance for Usha Vance.
Later in the evening, Vice President Vance called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, at 6:30 pm.
The discussions were expected to focus on advancing bilateral trade ties, economic cooperation, and defence collaboration, with a particular emphasis on finalising a proposed bilateral trade agreement.
The meeting also aimed to strengthen the comprehensive strategic global partnership between India and the United States, addressing a broad range of bilateral issues.
Vance is also expected to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Centre. In Agra, the itinerary includes a visit to the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, an open-air emporium showcasing Indian artefacts.
The Vice President and his family will depart India from Jaipur on the morning of April 24.
