JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, arrived in India on Monday for his first official visit. He landed at Palam airport with his family. His visit spanning four days, from April 21 to 24 comes after his official trip to Italy.

JD Vance arrived in Delhi around 9:30 am and went straight to Akshardham Temple with his wife Usha Vance and their three children – Ewan, Vivek, and Maribel. He is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening at the PM's residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Besides Delhi, Vance will also travel to Jaipur on Tuesday and Agra on Wednesday, before leaving India on Thursday morning. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed JD Vance, his wife Usha, and their children at Palam airport. The US Vice President was also given a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Modi and JD Vance will discuss a range of topics during their meeting. "This is an Official Visit. He will be meeting the Prime Minister. And with the United States of America, we have a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership. So, when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously you will discuss all relevant issues," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. Many hoardings have been put up around Delhi to welcome Vance. To keep traffic running smoothly, the city’s traffic police have issued an advisory with different time slots throughout the day. People are mainly advised to stay away from certain routes in Central Delhi and to use public transport if they can.

Upon his arrival in India, Vance and his family visited the Akshardham Temple, spending around 55 minutes there. They also offered prayers to Lord Swaminarayan, wishing for world peace, according to temple spokesperson Radhika Shukla. “The whole family was here for around 55 minutes. Their experience of one hour inside was unforgettable. After the welcome, they started with the Charanarvind of Lord Swaminarayan. Moving ahead, they visited Bharat Upvan. They liked the garden very much. Going further, they visited Gajendra Peeth. They were very overwhelmed by the carvings. Then they went upstairs and after having a darshan of the idol of Lord Swaminarayan in the sanctum sanctorum, they prayed for world peace...” ANI quoted Radhika Shukla as saying. "A souvenir was given to them so that their unforgettable memories remain forever. When he was having a darshan at Akshardham Temple, he really liked the artwork, the messages given here and the cultural carvings here. His children also enjoyed a lot. They experienced the culture and tradition of our country," she added. The temple's official X account also shared a message from Vance, where he thanked them for their warm welcome and praised the temple’s beautiful and detailed architecture.

Vance also visited Central Cottage Industries Emporium in New Delhi. The manager of Central Cottage Industries Emporium in New Delhi's Janpath shared details about the visit of US Vice President JD Vance. “This is a handloom handicraft emporium. They liked everything. They were short of time, but they spent almost 40-45 minutes. They bought tea, honey, papier-mâché items, wooden items and pottery. And they appreciated the goods. They were very humble and soft-spoken. She bought whatever the kids said,” showroom Manager Meetu Wazirani said.

Vance will visit Amber Fort in Jaipur and speak about US-India relations at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) on Tuesday. He will land in Jaipur on a special flight at 9:30 pm and stay at the Rambagh Palace hotel. On Tuesday morning at 9 am, he will go to Amber Fort. Later, at 3 pm, he will deliver his address at the RIC. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner on Monday evening for US Vice President J D Vance and Indian-origin Second Lady Usha. Before the dinner, the two leaders will hold talks on important topics such as trade, tariffs, regional security, and ways to strengthen the overall partnership between India and the United States. JD Vance and his family are currently staying at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel in Delhi, as per PTI. Located on Sardar Patel Marg, this hotel is known for hosting world leaders and famous personalities. It features 411 rooms, 26 suites, and renowned restaurants like Bukhara, Dum Pukht, and Avartana. On Monday night, the Vance family is scheduled to travel to Jaipur, where they will be staying at the Rambagh Palace.

US Vice President JD Vance’s first official visit to India comes amid the backdrop of Donald Trump's now-paused tariff program against most countries, including India. It also coincides with a rapidly intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, which is India’s main rival in the region.