"Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will travel to New Delhi, India, for internal consultations and bilateral meetings," the State Department said in a statement.
The State Department's decision came after White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest announced that, "At the invitation of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, the President will travel to India in January 2015 to participate in the Indian Republic Day celebration in New Delhi as the Chief Guest."
"The summit will focus on deepening regional economic connectivity and expanding South Asia's role in the global economy. While in Kathmandu, she will meet with Nepali political leaders, civil society activists and business leaders," the State Department said.
Following Nepal, Biswal will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to participate in meetings with Bangladeshi government officials, civil society and labour group leaders and members of the business community.
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"Finally Biswal will travel to Basel, Switzerland to participate in the OSCE Ministerial. She will hold meetings with senior leaders from the OSCE and Central Asian nations," the State Department said.
The India trip assumes significance given that Obama would be travelling to India at a time, when the President normally gives his annual State of the Union Address to the Congress.
Also, the White House normally does not announce President's travel schedule two months in advance.