A recent State Department report has revealed a list of gifts that Indian officials presented to their US counterparts in 2024. The gifts, ranging from a silver train set to pashmina shawls, reflect India's rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship.
Here's a breakdown of some of the notable gifts:
- To President Joe Biden: Then-President Biden received a sterling silver train set valued at $7,750 from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 16, 2024. The train set was later transferred to the National Archives. On September 10, 2023, Biden also received a wood chest, scarf, saffron with jar, and a wooden tea box, with a combined estimated value of $562. The chest, scarf, jar, and box were also transferred to the National Archives, while the tea and saffron were excluded.
- To First Lady Jill Biden: PM Modi gifted First Lady Jill Biden a pashmina shawl on October 21, 2024, which was valued at $2,969. This item was also transferred to the National Archives.
- To Vice President Kamala Harris: On October 18, 2024, Prime Minister Modi presented Vice President Kamala Harris with a Lord Krishna Raas Leela silver box, valued at $1,330. The silver box was then transferred to the National Archives.
- To Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff: Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff received cufflinks from Prime Minister Modi on October 18, 2024. The cufflinks were valued at $585.65 and were also transferred to the National Archives.
- To National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan: India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, gifted President Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, a Kashmir pashmina scarf with a box on August 23, 2024. The scarf was valued at $599 and was transferred to the General Services Administration.
- To the Department of Defense: Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin received a Shiva Nataraja bronze statue on November 24, 2022, valued at $3,700.
These gifts are part of a long-standing tradition of exchanging presents during diplomatic visits. Such exchanges serve as a gesture of goodwill and promote cultural exchange between countries.
In the United States, there are specific rules governing the acceptance and disposal of gifts received by federal employees from foreign government sources. According to these regulations, any gift exceeding a minimal value (which was $480 in 2024) must be reported. In most cases, the recipients do not keep the gifts themselves. Instead, the items are transferred to the National Archives or other relevant agencies for preservation and public display.
