Sasha, Malia not to accompany Barack Obama on India visit

Malia and Sasha - the First Daughters of the United States - will give a miss to India trip as they tend only to travel with their parents when they are on vacation from school, a US official has said.

Sasha and Malia, the 16 and 13-year-old daughters of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama won't be accompanying them on the trip, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters.

Last year, they traveled with the First Lady on a visit to China. The Obamas would arrive in New Delhi on Sunday to be the chief guests at the Republic Day Parade. The are set to tour the Taj Mahal at the end of their three-day trip.

"I think their priority is school, so they tend to travel on overseas visits that take place in the summer, when that's not the overriding factor," Rhodes said in response to a question.

"The First Lady doesn't have any independent events planned," Rhodes further said.