Modi to Pence 'India-Ana'; home state of US vice-president 'Indiana'

There was a light moment during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore on Wednesday when he riffed on the meaning of 'Indiana' - the American leader's home state.

Through his translator, Modi said that when he met Pence in the US in 2017 he told him that "Indiana" (INDIA-Ana) in Hindi, meaning "To come to India."

Modi then repeated his invitation to Pence to visit India.

Pence laughed appreciatively. "Thank you, Mr Prime Minister," Pence said. "I expect I will 'Indiana'."

The US vice president is likely to visit India in 2019.