Rapid Fire
Protocol for the President during a State Visit
- 09 Mar 2026
- 3 min read
A political controversy has erupted after the President expressed displeasure over the absence of the Chief Minister and her ministers at her reception in West Bengal with allegations of protocol breaches and accusations of disrespect.
Protocol for Receiving the President in States
- Precedence and Protocol: The President of India holds the first rank in the national table of precedence. Consequently, all visits are governed by stringent security and logistical guidelines as enlisted in the Blue Book.
- The 'Blue Book': The 'Blue Book' is a confidential document prepared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that provides the detailed framework for managing visits of the President, Vice-President, and Prime Minister.
- It is kept by the District Magistrate and district police chief, outlining all procedures for security, logistics, and ceremonial arrangements.
- Established Convention: The protocol suggests that the Governor and the Chief Minister should welcome the President on arrival (typically at an airport, railway station, or other entry point) and be seen off at departure.
- However, the Chief Minister can designate a senior minister to receive the dignitary if she is personally unavailable.
- Advance Approval: To avoid any breach, a list of all individuals scheduled to receive and meet the visiting dignitary is approved in advance by the President's office. Any deviation from the approved list or the procedures in the Blue Book is considered a breach of protocol.
| Read More: Frictions in Centre-State Relations |
