No one, not even ministers, will be allowed to come too close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi unless cleared by the Special Protection Group, the Union Home Ministry said in its new security guidelines to states.

There has been an "all-time high" threat to the PM and he is the "most valuable target" in the run-up to the 2019 general elections, officials privy to the issue said. The SPG is believed to have advised Modi to cut down on road shows, which invite bigger threat, and instead address rallies.