External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. During his visit, Jaishankar is also expected to hold meetings with representatives from the incoming administration and other dignitaries present at the event.

In a statement, the Centre announced, “On the invitation of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar will represent the Government of India at the Swearing-In Ceremony of President-Elect Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.”

Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20 at noon (Eastern Time), taking the presidential oath of office administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Prior to Trump’s swearing-in, Vice President-elect JD Vance’s ceremony will take place.

Last month, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) announced the theme for the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies as “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise,” which honours the commitment of the Founders to future generations of Americans to uphold the integrity of the democratic system.

During Trump’s inauguration, flags will be lowered to half-staff. President Biden has directed that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days in memory of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100. This directive will be in effect until sunset on January 28.

The United States Congress certified Donald Trump’s victory in the November presidential election on January 6, clearing the final obstacle to his return to the White House later this month. This official validation confirmed the results of the 2024 Electoral College.

The congressional event, chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris—Trump’s primary opponent in the election—was brief and took place without much fanfare.

Among the foreign dignitaries expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony are Argentine President Javier Milei, British Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a representative from a right-leaning French political party.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was invited to the ceremony, but passport issues might prevent him from making the trip. Additionally, although President Xi Jinping of China was invited by Trump to the inaugural festivities, he will instead send a high-level envoy in his place.

Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs, is currently in India to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. A notable development from her highly publicized spiritual journey to Uttar Pradesh has emerged: Kailashanand Giri Maharaj announced that the Akhara has given her a Hindu name, ‘Kamala’. He described Powell Jobs as like a daughter to the Akhara and mentioned plans to integrate her into the Akhara Peshawai.

In an interview with news agency ANI, Kailashanand Giri Maharaj stated, “I had my ‘Peshwai’ at Kumbh yesterday. Today, we have come to Kashi to pray to Mahadev for an unobstructed Kumbh… I am here to invite Mahadev… Our disciple Maharshi Vyasanand is with us from America.” He further shared, “Tomorrow he will be honoured as a Mahamandaleshwar in my Akhara. Laurene Jobs has also joined us… According to our Indian tradition, in Kashi Vishwanath, no other Hindu can touch the Shivling. Therefore, she viewed the Shivling from the outside… She will stay at the Kumbh and take a dip in the Ganga…”

Laurene Powell Jobs’s visit is part of her 17-day stay in India, during which she aims to deepen her understanding of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma. To gain further insights, she plans to participate in ‘katha’, ‘pravachans’, and engage in ‘bhajans’ and ‘kirtans’ while residing with her guru.

Reports suggest that Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was not a believer in a traditional God but did believe in a higher power he referred to as consciousness.

The highly anticipated Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 13, 2025, and run until Wednesday, February 26, 2025. When asked earlier about potentially including Powell Jobs in Akhara’s Peshawai, Maharaj stated, “We will try to include her in the Peshwai. Ultimately, it will be her decision. She will experience this Kumbh and interact with the seers here. It will be a fulfilling experience for her, and we welcome those who are eager to learn about our traditions.”

“This is a religious festival; people from around the world and across India come to Maha Kumbh to seek blessings,” remarked Swami Kailashnand Ji Maharaj.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak announced that all arrangements for the Mela have been finalized. “We have completed all preparations for the Maha Kumbh… We are meeting with the saints and sages who have gathered in Prayagraj for the Mela, seeking their blessings and thanking them for their presence. It’s our duty to ensure that the saints have a smooth experience here. Everyone is welcome, and all arrangements are in place,” he stated.

Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya assured devotees that this Kumbh would be a divine and grand event. “We have made extensive preparations for a holy and magnificent Kumbh in Prayagraj… We are eagerly awaiting January 13. Complete measures have been taken to ensure everyone’s safety during the ritual baths… I have witnessed the Kumbh of 2013 with its challenges and the well-managed Ardh Kumbh of 2019,” he noted.

Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised Prasar Bharati for launching a special radio channel, ‘Kumbhvani,’ in celebration of the Maha Kumbh, which begins on January 13. He stated that the channel would enable people in remote areas of the country, where connectivity remains a challenge, to access the Kumbh Mela.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed that he has been “eagerly awaiting” his trip to Sonmarg in Kashmir for the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, scheduled for Monday.

“I am looking forward to my visit to Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir for the tunnel inauguration. You rightly highlight the benefits it will bring to tourism and the local economy. I also loved the aerial pictures and videos!” PM Modi shared in a post on X.

His remarks were in response to a post by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had visited Sonmarg earlier in the day to assess preparations for the inauguration. During his visit, Omar inspected the tunnel tubes and engaged with engineers and workers, expressing gratitude for their hard work in completing this significant project.

“Today, I visited Sonmarg to oversee preparations for PM @narendramodi ji’s visit on Monday. The inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel will enable year-round tourism in Sonmarg. The area is set to be developed into a premier ski resort. The local community will no longer need to migrate during winter, and travel time from Srinagar to Kargil/Leh will also be reduced,” Omar stated in his post.

Modi is scheduled to arrive in Sonamarg on January 13 at 11:45 AM for a visit to the Z-Morh tunnel, followed by the inauguration ceremony and a speech to attendees.

The Z-Morh tunnel, set to open on January 13, will ensure year-round access between Kashmir and Sonamarg. Spanning 6.5 kilometers, it is located on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Gagangir sector of the Ganderbal district and was constructed at the cost of ₹24 billion.

The road to Sonmarg often became impassable due to heavy snowfall and harsh winters, particularly in avalanche-prone zones, making the Z-Morh tunnel essential for maintaining continuous access, which is vital for the region’s tourism sector.

Construction on the tunnel began in 2012 by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and while Tunnelways Limited was initially awarded the project, control was later transferred to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which re-tendered the project.