Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama hug as the president and US First Lady Michelle Obama, left, arrive in New Delhi. Source: AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama exchange a hug. Source: AFP

Dressed in a bright saffron shawl, Mr Modi broke with protocol to greet Mr Obama and his wife Michelle on the tarmac at the start of an unprecedented second visit to India by a serving US president.

Mr Obama will become the first US President to be chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade during his three-day visit, aimed at consolidating what he has called one of the “defining partnerships of the 21st century”.

Mr Modi was a Washington outcast only a year ago.

The visit also caps a remarkable turnaround in relations after a diplomatic row in late 2013 that saw the Stars and Stripes torched on the streets of Delhi.

The Indian Prime Minister has invited Mr Obama to co-host a radio phone-in show and is reportedly planning a private dinner at his New Delhi home for the president.

The Obamas were scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal, but their trip has been cut short to allow the President to travel on to Saudi Arabia and pay respects to new King Salman tomorrow.

Mr Obama’s trip comes just months after Mr Modi’s first official visit to the US, and with so little time to lay the groundwork it is expected to be stronger on ­symbolism than on content.

Nonetheless, a deal on ­intelligence-sharing is on the cards and a decade-old defence cooperation pact is expected to be upgraded.

Climate change and Afghanistan are expected to be discussed, while the two leaders will make a joint address to ­company bosses today.

AFP