German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on a two-day visit to India. Angela Merkel arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning, where PM Modi welcomed her. She has come to New Delhi for the fifth time for the Inter Governmental Consultations (IGC) meeting. This meeting with PM Modi has started. There will be bilateral discussions between the two leaders in this meeting. During this time, 20 agreements will be signed between the two countries.

She reached Rajghat at the tomb of Mahatma Gandhi on Friday morning and paid tribute to him. German Chancellor Merkel was welcomed by Union Minister Jitendra Singh at Palam Airport in New Delhi yesterday. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted on Thursday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is embarking on her India visit to give a new height to India-Germany relations. During this time she will have a meeting with PM Narendra Modi.

On Friday, Merkel will be able to sit during the national anthem of the both countries in a formal program in Rashtrapati Bhavan. In view of Merkel's illness, Germany made a special request for it, which the Government of India has accepted. In order to allow Merkel, certain provisions of the National Anthem Order will be implemented.

Indeed, it is the duty of every Indian to express respect for the national anthem. The Prevention of Insult to National Honor Act, 1971 provides for imprisonment of three years or fine for preventing the national anthem from being played or for deliberately causing disruption during the national anthem.