US media focuses on Modi's regional ambitions

During his campaign, Modi, "the son of a tea seller" capitalised "on this desire for development by playing up his economic-management experience as chief minister of Gujarat, and softening his former public image as a hard-line Hindu nationalist", it said.

Credited for his pro-business approach as the Gujarat chief minister, Modi "has also raised expectations that his government will succeed in turning around India's slowing economy, generate more jobs and rein in soaring prices and deeply entrenched corruption", wrote CNN.

The Los Angeles Times said Modi offered "a new, more conservative government to a country thirsty for economic change".

It also found the swearing in ceremony notable for the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz "Sharif who reportedly ignored warnings from his own intelligence agency to attend".

The Foreign Policy Journal suggested that India should expand and strengthen the civil nuclear relationship with the US "for generating alternate sources of energy in the common geo-political ground scenario in Asia as well as boost the US-India defence relationship and military ties for greater inter-operability in counter-terrorism.

"Re-energizing the technology and innovation synergy between US and Indian private companies should be a priority," it said.