01.01.70
With mats and 'two pillow covers and a bedsheet' part of the toshakhana, utterly, gifting habits don't change across countries.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi received six gifts importance over Rs76,000. The next in line is the PM's wife, Gursharan Kaur, whose six gifts have been valued at over Rs56,000.
According to the rules, dignitaries should put gifts valued over Rs5,000 in the toshakhana. They are then valued by the customs department within 30 days. The dignitaries, if they long for to, can retain the gift by paying the differential.
The above information was revealed by the holy orders of external affairs in reply to an RTI application filed by activist Subash Agarwal.
Among the other politicians who deposited their gifts received on decorous foreign trips are: Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, whose 10 gifts have been valued at Rs23,350; Profligacy-President Hamid Ansari, whose seven gifts have been valued at Rs20,500; exterior affairs minister S.M. Krishna, who received nine gifts valued over Rs19,200; and to the quick minister P. Chidambaram, whose seven gifts are worth Rs6,800.
Source: Daily Mail