A recent State Department report has revealed a series of high-value gifts presented by Indian leaders to senior US officials, highlighting India’s diplomatic gift exchanges. Among the notable items, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted then-President Joe Biden a sterling silver train set valued at $7,750 during his visit. Following federal rules, the train set was transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
The report, published in the Federal Register on January 29 by the Office of the Chief of Protocol, notes that refusing such gifts could cause embarrassment to both the donor and the US government. Alongside the train set, Biden received other gifts from India, including a wood chest, scarf, saffron in a jar, and a wood tea box on September 10, 2023, collectively valued at $562. Perishable items were excluded from archival transfer, while the rest were moved to NARA.
First Lady Jill Biden was presented with a Kashmir pashmina shawl worth $2,969 on October 21, 2024, which was also archived at NARA. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan received a Kashmir pashmina scarf valued at $599 from India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on August 23, 2024, and the item was transferred to the General Services Administration.
Vice President Kamala Harris received a Lord Krishna Raas Leela silver box from Modi on October 18, 2024, valued at $1,330, and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff was gifted cufflinks worth $585.65 on the same day; both items were archived at NARA. Additionally, the Department of Defense report notes that former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin received a Shiva Nataraja bronze statue valued at $3,700 from Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on November 24, 2022, with its transfer to the General Services Administration pending.
The report emphasizes that federal agencies are responsible for the accuracy of the gift information submitted, including appraisals and donor details. It covers tangible items, as well as gifts of travel or travel-related expenses, with only those exceeding minimal value thresholds included. Some older entries appear due to delayed reporting.
