Modi in US Day 3 highlights: ‘Indians are brilliant in every field…not just Spelling Bee,’ says PM

Titans of business, fashion, entertainment and more made the guest list for Thursday's big White House dinner in honor of India's Narendra Modi, with the likes of designer Ralph Lauren, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and tennis legend Billie Jean King rubbing shoulders with tech leaders from Apple, Google and Microsoft.

“There is one more thing left to do tonight- please join me in raising a toast. A toast to our wonderful hosts, President Biden and Jill Biden. A toast to good health, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness, liberty, equality and to the ever-lasting bonds of friendship between India and the United States”: PM Modi during the official State Dinner at The White House

President Biden, PM Modi welcomes India's plans to procure Predator drones

'Tonight it's a fitting way to celebrate,' says Biden as he hosts PM Modi for State Dinner at the White House.

Ambanis, Sundar Pichai, Nikhil Kamath, Tim Cook, M Night Shyamalan among the guests invited for the State dinner. 

15 standing ovations, 79 applauses marked PM Modi’s address to the joint session of the US Congress.

"It has been wonderful, beyond my wildest dreams. It has grown so strong, this is not just the relationship between two men, or two governments, its really two peoples," says US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti.

President Joe Biden's son Hunter has been invited to the prestigious state dinner on Thursday for India's prime minister, just days after agreeing to a plea deal on federal charges.

Hunter Biden will be accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohen, according to a list of invitees shared by the White House, which also included the daughter of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Ashley Biden.

Today’s talks with @POTUS @JoeBiden were extensive and productive. India will keep working with USA across sectors to make our planet better, tweeted PM Modi. 

PM Modi was accorded ceremonial welcome at Grand Staircase ahead of State Dinner at the White House.

1. PM Modi on the Indian economy: “When I first visited the US as a PM, India was the 10th largest economy in the world. Today, India is the 5th largest economy. India will be the 3rd largest economy soon. We are not only growing bigger but we are also growing faster. When India grows the whole world grows.”

2. The Indian PM on women empowerment: “...today in modern India, women are leading us to a better future. India's vision is not just of development that benefits women. It is of women-led development where women lead the journey of progress. A woman has risen from a humble tribal background to be our Head of State.”

3. PM Modi on climate actions: “...We became the only G20 country to meet its Paris commitment. We made renewables account for over 40% of our energy sources 9 years ahead of the target of 2030. But we did not stop there. At the Glasgow Summit, I proposed mission LiFE...Our mission is pro-planet progress, pro-planet prosperity, pro-planet people.”

4. The prime minister on Unity in diversity: "India is the home to all faiths in the world and we celebrate all of them. In India, diversity is a natural way of life, today the world wants to know more and more about India" said Narendra Modi. “We have over 2,500 political parties. About 20 different parties govern various states of India. We have 22 official languages and thousands of dialects, yet we speak in one voice.”

5. PM Modi on India's foreign policy: "We live by the motto of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'-the world is one family. Our engagement with the world is for everyone's benefit. The same spirit is also seen in the theme when we chair the G20 Summit, One Earth, One Family, One Future. Last week, all nations joined our proposal at the UN, to build a memorial wall to honour the peacekeepers."   Read our full report here