Overview The Union government has denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and State Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora for a visit to the United Kingdom and Israel in February 2025 . This denial, as stated by the ruling AAP in the state on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 , was intended to attract investments to Punjab. Key Developments Denied Visit: The proposed visit to the UK and Israel by Chief Minister Mann and Industries Minister Arora in February 2025 was aimed at attracting foreign investments. Delegation Composition: The delegation was expected to include state government officers, with specific dates pending clearance. Reason for Denial: The Union government has not provided a specific reason for denying political clearance. Previous Instances: This is not the first instance of Mr. Mann being denied such permission by the Centre. Diplomatic Passport: Mr. Mann holds a diplomatic passport as the Chief Minister, typically facilitating international travel for official purposes. Investors' Summit: In December , Mr. Mann led a delegation to promote the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit , scheduled for March 13-15, 2026 , in Mohali . Olympic Visit Denial: In August 2024 , Bhagwant Mann stated that he was denied political clearance to visit Paris to support the Indian hockey team at the Olympic Games . He was scheduled to visit from August 3 to August 9 for the quarterfinal clash on August 4 . UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to the UPSC Civil Services Exam as it touches upon aspects of federalism , government policies , and international relations . The denial of political clearance raises questions about the balance of power between the Union government and state governments, particularly in matters of economic development and foreign relations. It is pertinent to GS Paper 2 (Governance, Polity, Social Justice & International relations) and GS Paper 3 (Economy) . Potential Exam Questions Prelims: Which ministry is responsible for granting political clearance for foreign travel of senior government officials? Mains: Discuss the implications of denying political clearance to state government officials for international visits aimed at attracting investment. How does this impact Centre-State relations? Essay: Federalism and Foreign Policy: Analyzing the role of states in attracting foreign investment and the challenges they face. Key Concepts Political Clearance: Permission required from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for senior government officials to undertake foreign travel. Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (states). Foreign Investment: Investment made by a company or individual in one country into business interests located in another country.