Obama's visit to India: Of handshakes and hugs

Published January 26, 2015
In this handout photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on January 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) and US President Barack Obama hug as the president and US First Lady Michelle Obama (L) arrive in New Delhi. — AFP
In this handout photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on January 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) and US President Barack Obama hug as the president and US First Lady Michelle Obama (L) arrive in New Delhi. — AFP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bottom right wearing orange scarf, waits to welcome U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as they walk down an airstair upon arrival at the Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bottom right wearing orange scarf, waits to welcome U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as they walk down an airstair upon arrival at the Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama embraces Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives with first lady Michelle Obama on Air Force One at Air Force Station Palam, in Palam, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama embraces Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives with first lady Michelle Obama on Air Force One at Air Force Station Palam, in Palam, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
US President Barack Obama (L), India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L) and first lady Michelle Obama wave their hands at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama (L), India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L) and first lady Michelle Obama wave their hands at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (L) and US Senator Mark Warner wait to take pictures with phones of US President Barack Obama as he disembarks from Air Force One at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (L) and US Senator Mark Warner wait to take pictures with phones of US President Barack Obama as he disembarks from Air Force One at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama arrives in his car to attend the ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama arrives in his car to attend the ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama shakes hand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watched by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee during a ceremonial reception at the Indian Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015.— AP
US President Barack Obama shakes hand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watched by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee during a ceremonial reception at the Indian Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015.— AP
US President Barack Obama (C) talks to the media next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and President Pranab Mukherjee in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi January 25, 2015.   — Reuters
US President Barack Obama (C) talks to the media next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and President Pranab Mukherjee in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
US President Barack Obama (2nd L, bottom) inspects a guard of honour during his ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama (2nd L, bottom) inspects a guard of honour during his ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
President Barack Obama reviews members of the military during an arrival ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama reviews members of the military during an arrival ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
US President Barack Obama looks out from a viewing stand during an arrival ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
US President Barack Obama looks out from a viewing stand during an arrival ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama walks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the gardens of the Hyderabad House in, New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama walks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the gardens of the Hyderabad House in, New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and US President Barack Obama sit and talk in the gardens between meetings at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 25, 2015. — AFP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and US President Barack Obama sit and talk in the gardens between meetings at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 25, 2015. — AFP
President Barack Obama walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, in the gardens of the Hyderabad House in, New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, in the gardens of the Hyderabad House in, New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama, left, participates in a tree planting ceremony at the Raj Ghat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama, left, participates in a tree planting ceremony at the Raj Ghat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) presents a reproduction of telegram sent by US to the Indian Constituent Assembly in 1946, to US President Barack Obama during their meeting in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) presents a reproduction of telegram sent by US to the Indian Constituent Assembly in 1946, to US President Barack Obama during their meeting in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi reads a joint statement next to US President Barack Obama (L) at Hyderabad House in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi reads a joint statement next to US President Barack Obama (L) at Hyderabad House in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
US President Barack Obama, left and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake their hands after they jointly addressed the media after their talks, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015.  — AP
US President Barack Obama, left and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake their hands after they jointly addressed the media after their talks, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
US President Barack Obama and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) wave during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
US President Barack Obama and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) wave during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi January 25, 2015. — Reuters
US President Barack Obama talks with Indian American movie actor and former Obama administration official Kal Penn (originally named Kalpen Suresh Modi) as Obama participates in a receiving line before a State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama talks with Indian American movie actor and former Obama administration official Kal Penn (originally named Kalpen Suresh Modi) as Obama participates in a receiving line before a State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
President Barack Obama, right, first lady Michelle Obama and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, left, stand during the US National Anthem before a receiving line at the State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama, right, first lady Michelle Obama and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, left, stand during the US National Anthem before a receiving line at the State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
US President Barack Obama folds his hands in a traditional Indian greeting as his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee (R) looks on during his ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama folds his hands in a traditional Indian greeting as his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee (R) looks on during his ceremonial reception at the forecourt of India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi January 25, 2015.— Reuters
US President Barack Obama (L) smiles during a meeting with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee at India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in this January 25, 2015 picture provided by India's Presidential Palace. — Reuters
US President Barack Obama (L) smiles during a meeting with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee at India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in this January 25, 2015 picture provided by India's Presidential Palace. — Reuters
The illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, is seen before President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee participate in a State Dinner, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
The illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, is seen before President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee participate in a State Dinner, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. — AP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Republic Day parade in New Delhi January 26, 2015.  — Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Republic Day parade in New Delhi January 26, 2015. — Reuters
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) welcomes US President Barack Obama (R) on Rajpath during India's Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2015. Rain failed to dampen spirits at India's Republic Day parade January 26 as Barack Obama became the first US president to attend the spectacular military and cultural display in a mark of the nations' growing closeness. — AFP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) welcomes US President Barack Obama (R) on Rajpath during India's Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2015. Rain failed to dampen spirits at India's Republic Day parade January 26 as Barack Obama became the first US president to attend the spectacular military and cultural display in a mark of the nations' growing closeness. — AFP
US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the pouring rain as he arrives to attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi January 26, 2015.  — Reuters
US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the pouring rain as he arrives to attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi January 26, 2015. — Reuters
President Barack Obama, fourth from left seated, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, third from left, watch an award ceremony and a parade from their viewing stand during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. — AP
President Barack Obama, fourth from left seated, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, third from left, watch an award ceremony and a parade from their viewing stand during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. — AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and US President Barack Obama, right, look out through rain covered protective glass to watch the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. — AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and US President Barack Obama, right, look out through rain covered protective glass to watch the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. — AP
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) motorcycle specialists perform during the Indian Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2015. — AFP
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) motorcycle specialists perform during the Indian Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2015. — AFP
Indian military vehicles and missile launching systems are displayed during the nation's Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26, 2015. — AFP
Indian military vehicles and missile launching systems are displayed during the nation's Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26, 2015. — AFP

Barack Obama arrived in India on Jan 25 becoming the first US president to make two official visits to India during his tenure.

Indian Premier Narendar Modi and US President Obama, later during the day announced they had reached an agreement to provide civilian nuclear technology to India that was signed in 2008 but had been held up by US concerns over liability in the event of a nuclear accident.

During his visit to India, Obama also became the first US president to attend the spectacular military and cultural display in a sign of the nations' growing closeness.

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