India - Russia Relations

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Introduction

 

Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India. Development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India's foreign policy. Since the signing of “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000 (during the visit of President Putin), India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship including political, security, defense, trade and economy, science and technology, and culture. Under the Strategic Partnership, several institutionalized dialogue mechanisms operate at both political and official levels to ensure regular interaction and follow up on cooperation activities. During the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”

The 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, held in New Delhi in December 2025, reaffirmed the enduring and time-tested “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between India and the Russian Federation. The two sides adopted “Programme 2030” as a comprehensive framework to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including trade and investment, defence and security, energy, science and technology, connectivity and cultural exchanges. Both countries reiterated their commitment to achieving the bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 and signed multiple agreements aimed at enhancing collaboration in defence production, civil nuclear energy, healthcare, education and economic development. The summit also underscored the importance of advancing connectivity initiatives such as the International North–South Transport Corridor and the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor. In addition, the Russian Federation emphasized closer coordination within multilateral platforms, including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The summit reflected the shared commitment of both nations to further deepen their strategic partnership in the context of evolving regional and global developments.

Political Relations


  1.  Annual Summit: The Annual Summit meeting between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between India and Russia. So far 23 Annual Summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. 

[Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vladivostok from September 4-5, 2019 for the 20th India-Russia Bilateral Summit and as the Guest of Honour for the 5th Eastern Economic Summit. 14 MoUs in the fields of Trade and Investments, defence cooperation, Road Transport and cooperation in oil and gas sectors were signed during the visit of Prime Minister. He also met the Prime Minister of Japan, the President of Mongolia and the Prime Minister of Malaysia on the sidelines and addressed the Eastern Economic Forum.]

  1. The 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, focused on strengthening multilateral cooperation, advancing global governance reforms and enhancing collaboration among BRICS members following the bloc’s expansion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized cooperation among Global South countries, sustainable development, and a more inclusive international order.

  2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin held their first informal Summit in the city of Sochi in the Russian Federation on May 21, 2018. The Summit provided an occasion for both leaders to deepen their friendship and to exchange views on international and regional issues, in keeping with the tradition of high-level political exchanges between India and Russia.

    5. On April 12, 2019, President Putin signed the Executive Order on Awarding PM Russia’s highest state decoration - Order of St Andrew the Apostle. The order was presented to PM for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the Russian and Indian peoples. 
  1. The leaders also maintain regular contact through telephone conversations. On 17 September 2025, President Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Modi on his 75th birthday and emphasized that under Prime Minister’s leadership India is pursuing an independent, sovereign policy while demonstrating impressive economic results. On 07 October 2025, PM spoke with President Putin and warmly congratulated him on his 73rd birthday. Previously, on 08 and 18 August 2025, President Putin spoke with Prime Minister and briefed him on the latest developments concerning Ukraine in the context of US-Russia Alaska Summit. Both leaders also spoke on 05 May 2025 in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen cooperation in the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism.
  1. Both countries remain in regular contact at Ministerial level. EAM and FM Lavrov met recently on 17 November 2025 during EAM’s visit to Moscow for SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting. The Ministers have already met six times this year: 17 November in Moscow (Russia), 27 September in New York (USA), 21 August in Moscow (Russia), 15 July in Tianjin (China), 07 July in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and 20 February in Johannesburg (South Africa). During his recent visit to Russia on 17-19 November 2025, EAM called on President Putin, participated in SCO CHG meeting, met with FM Lavrov and First DPM Manturov and inaugurated Consulate Generals of India in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. In August 2025, EAM visited Moscow and called on President Putin and co-chaired the 26th session of the IRIGC-TEC with First DPM Denis Manturov and met with FM Lavrov.
  1. Raksha Mantri (RM) Shri Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with the Russian Defence Minister Mr. Andrey Belousov on the margins of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China on 26 June 2025. RM had previously visited Russia from 08-10 December 2024 to co-chair the 21st Session of the IRIGC-MMTC meeting in Moscow. RM also called on President Putin during the visit. Raksha Rajya Mantri (RRM) Shri Sanjay Seth represented India for 9th May 2025 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-45).
  1. NSA Shri Ajit Doval visited Moscow on 07-08 August 2025 for the India-Russia NSA-level Strategic Dialogue. During the visit, NSpA called on President Putin and held meetings with Secretary of the Russian Security Council Mr. Sergei Shoigu, Aide to President Putin Mr. Niokolai Patrushev and First DPM Mr. Denis Manturov. In September 2024, NSA visited St. Petersburg to attend the BRICS NSAs meeting during which he called on President Putin and met his counterpart Mr. Sergei Shoigu. Aide to President Putin Mr. Nikolai Patrushev visited India from 17-19 November 2025 for Russia-India consultations on maritime cooperation and on naval cooperation. During the visit, he called on PM Modi, met with NSA Ajit Doval, Minister of Ports, Shipping & waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior officials
  1. Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri held bilateral Foreign Office Consultations with his Russian counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister (DFM) Andrey Rudenko on 07 March 2025 in Moscow. In December 2024, Secretary (West) Shri Tanmaya Lal had visited Moscow and met his counterpart DFM Sergey Vershinin for the sixth India-Russia Consultationsp on UN Matters and 13th India-Russia Working Group meeting on Counter Terrorism.
  1. In the context of Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor, an all-party delegation led by Ms. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi comprising 5 MPs and senior diplomat Ambassador Manjeev Puri visited Russia from 22-24 May 2025 to project India’s united resolve and zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. From 21-26 June 2025, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP Lok Sabha who was on his personal visit held meetings with Mr. Konstantin Kosachev (Deputy Chairman of Federal Council) and Mr. Leonid Slutsky (Chairman of State Duma Committee on International Affairs). From 29-30 October,2025 Indian parliamentary delegation including Hon’ble MPs Shri Rajkumar Chahar, Dr. C.N. Manjunath from Loksabha and Dr. V. Sivadasan from Rajya Sabha participated in the meetings of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee on Social and Cultural Affairs in Moscow.
  1. Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal led a high power delegation of Chief Ministers of Haryana, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh and Goa and about 140 Indian companies to Vladivostok from August 11-13, 2019. This visit came as a fulfillment of the assurance of Prime Minister to the Russian President during their meeting in Bishkek earlier this year on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, to explore opportunities for enhancing trade and investment from India to the Far East region of Russia. About 200 Russian companies, Investment Agencies and Funds took part from the Russian side. Companies interacted separately with identified partners in an expanded B2B format and established contacts for further deliberations. The companies belonged to a wide cross-section of priority sectors, including minerals and rare earth, energy, forestry and timber, healthcare, agriculture and food processing, ceramics, tourism and infrastructure. Secretary DPIIT, Shri Guruprasad Mohapatra visited Moscow from 22-23 November 2019 for the IRIGC-working group on Modernization.
  1. From June 17-20, 2019, DPM and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia, Yuri Trutnev visited India to explore bilateral cooperation in Far East in priority areas like diamond-processing, petroleum and natural gas, coal and mining, agro-processing and tourism. He met NSA, EAM, Minister of PNG, Vice Chairman NITI Aayog, Head of Coal India Limited and attended a round-table discussion involving representatives of leading Indian Universities to foster closer partnership between Indian and Russian Far Eastern Universities in the field of science and education. He also traveled to Mumbai where he interacted with prominent Indian industry representatives and had meetings with Indian companies having business interests in the Russian Far East

  2.  India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. India-Russia military technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer - seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems. BrahMos Missile System as well as the licensed production in India of SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks, are examples of such flagship cooperation. Furthering this cooperation, an agreement on the cooperation in the production of spare parts for Russian/Soviet military equipment was signed during the 20th Annual Bilateral Summit in Vladivostok in September 2019. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh visited Russia in December 2024 and Co-Chaired the 21st IRIGC – M&MTC meeting apart from participating in the commissioning a frigate “INS Tushil” at Kaliningrad. On 01 July 2025, INS Tamal, the latest stealth multi-role frigate, was commissioned in Kaliningrad.
  1. On October 28-29 2025, the 5th Meeting of the Working Group on Military Cooperation of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) took place in New Delhi. On 29 October 2025, Indian delegation led by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production) participated in the 23rd Working Group Meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation and Defence Industry in Moscow
  1.     The 14th edition of India-Russia joint training exercise INDRA-2025 was held in Bikaner, Rajasthan from 6-15 October, 2025 with the participation of more than 250 servicemen from each side. On 10-16 September 2025, a contingent of 65 Indian Armed Forces personnel from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, took part in Zapad-2025 military exercise at Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. On 28 Mar-02 Apr 2025, the bilateral Naval Exercise INDRA 2025 between Indian and Russian navies was conducted in two phases – Harbour phase at Chennai and Sea phase in Bay of Bengal.
  1. The first-ever Tri-Services exercise – ‘INDRA 2017’ took place in Vladivostok from October 19 to 29, 2017. On December 13-16, bilateral Russian-Indian naval exercise Indra Navy-2018 was held in the Bay of Bengal. Joint Tri-Services Exercise ‘INDRA 2019’ between India and Russia was carried out simultaneously in Babina, Pune, and Goa from 10th -19th December 2019. Representatives from the Armed Forces of the Republic of India and the Eastern Command of the Russian Federation participated in the exercises, to strengthen field, marine and flight skills as well as improve cooperation between Russia and India's armed forces. 

 

Trade and Economic Cooperation

  1. The primary mechanism at the government level for enhancing trade and economic cooperation is the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific & Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), co-chaired by EAM from the Indian side and First DPM Mr. Denis Manturov from the Russian side. The 26th session of the IRIGC-TEC was held on 20 August 2025 in Moscow and focused on addressing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, removing bottlenecks in logistics, promoting connectivity, effecting payment mechanisms smoothly, timely finalization and execution of the Programme of Economic Cooperation till 2030, the early conclusion of the India-Eurasian Economic Union FTA, whose terms of reference were finalized, and regular interaction between the businesses of the two countries, for timely achievement of the revised bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. Following the plenary session, the Protocol for the 26th Session of IRIGC-TEC was signed by the co-chairs. The 25th session of the IRIGC-TEC was held on 12 November 2024 in New Delhi. During his visit, First DPM Manturov called on the Prime Minister and also met with Finance Minister and NSA.

Intensifying the trade and economic relations has been identified as a priority area by both the leaders who had set the targets of increasing bilateral investment to USD 50 billion (by 2025) and bilateral trade to USD 100 billion (by 2030). Bilateral trade between India and Russia reached a record high of USD 68.7 billion in FY 2024-25. It comprises India’s exports worth USD 4.9 billion and imports from Russia amounting to USD 63.8 billion.

Major items of export from India include pharmaceuticals, organic and inorganic chemicals, iron & steel and marine products, while major items of import from Russia include oil and petroleum products, vegetable oil (particularly sunflower oil), fertilizers, coking coal, precious stones and metals. 

From 13-14 November, Commerce Secretary Mr. Rajesh Agarwal visited Moscow to co-chair the 26th session of India-Russia Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation along with Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Vladimir Ilichev. On 1-3 October 2025, MoS for External Affairs and Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita visited Moscow to address the Indian Apparels and Textile Fair organised by Handloom Export Promotion Council in Moscow. Union Minister of Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, and Information and Broadcasting Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Dr. Suman Bery visited Russia from 18-21 June 2025 participating in the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

  1. Srei Infrastructure Finance signed a memorandum of understanding with Vnesheconom bank to create a $200 million IT and Innovation Fund for exploring investment opportunities in technology companies in Russia, India and other selected regions jointly. Some of the other major investments by Indian companies include ONGC Videsh Ltd. in Sakhalin-I Project (US $ 2.2 bn); Imperial Energy (US $ 2.1 bn); Commercial Bank of India Ltd. (JV of SBI and Canara Bank); ICICI Bank in its subsidiary ICICI Bank Eurasia; KGK Group (US $ 50 mn); Advance Pharma (1.5 bn Ru).

Nuclear & Space Cooperation:

  1.     Russia is an important partner for India in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy. India’s only nuclear power plant established with another country is in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu which is established in collaboration with Russia. India-Russia cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space dates back to four decades. Both countries continue to engage in several niche areas of space cooperation including India’s manned spaceflight program (Gaganyaan).

Science & Technology Cooperation:

  1. Science & Technology has played a key role in the bilateral India-Russia partnership, especially in the early days after India’s independence. The bilateral cooperation is guided by the new roadmap for Science, Technology & Innovation signed during the 21st Annual Summit in New Delhi in December 2021. It is expected to boost innovation-related engagements between the two countries and focus on commercialization of technologies and full-cycle support for joint projects of economic and societal impact. Meetings of the Russia-India Working Group on Science and Technology, with representatives of the relevant ministries, universities and scientists of both countries, take place regularly under the IRIGC-TEC mechanism.

Cultural Cooperation:

  1.     India and Russia have deep and historic cultural linkages. Various writers, philosophers, thinkers and artists have exercised mutual influence on each other’s art, culture and societies. The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC), Moscow maintains close cooperation with leading Russian institutions. A number of Russian universities and institutions, teach Indian languages. Indian cinema was especially popular in the Soviet period with screenings in most major cities and urban centers. Yoga is also immensely popular across Russia.
  1.     From 11-17 October, exposition of Holy Relics of Lord Buddha was held in Elista, Republic of Kalmykia for the first time ever in Russia. The event drew massive public participation and spiritual reverence, as close to 100,000 Russians came to receive blessings and witness the relics of Lord Buddha, a symbol of peace, compassion, and enlightenment.
  1.     The Second Indian Film Festival was held from 04-15 October 2025 across five Russian cities: Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yakutsk and Moscow. A 9-day cultural festival ‘Bharat Utsav-Festival of India’ was held for the first time in the central area of Moscow city from 5-13 July 2025. The festival with 120+ events bringing in 100+ artists and craftsmen from India was a huge success witnessing a footfall of 8,50,000 Russian citizens. The XI International Day of Yoga (2025) was celebrated in 60+ regions of Russia and in Vladivostok region more than 500 people participated in Yoga demonstration and master classes on Ayurveda and meditation. From 3-7 September 2025, Moscow International Book Fair was conducted and India was the Guest of Honour country for 2025.
  1.     Russia’s Minister of Culture Ms. Olga Lyubimova led one of the largest foreign delegations at World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES 2025) held in Mumbai in May 2025. The delegation comprised representatives from ministries of culture and digital development and delegates of six major Russian media companies. On the sidelines, Ms.  Lyubimova met with Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss furthering bilateral cooperation in cinematography.


Education:

  1. Cooperation between India and Russia in the field of education is multifaceted and longstanding in nature. One of the most visible aspects of this cooperation is the presence of more than 33,000 Indian students in institutes in Russia for courses in disciplines such as medicine, engineering, economics, sciences and other subjects. Medical students comprise the largest group among Indian students studying in Russia. Russia has been an active partner country for Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarship. Separately, Indology is taught in several Russian universities apart from Indian languages such as Hindi, Sanskrit & Pali. At the school-level, the Atal Innovation Mission of India and SIRIUS Center work together as part of an initiative envisioned by Prime Minister and President Putin. In context of collaboration in higher education including between universities/institutes, then the following main mechanisms are playing an active role - Educational Exchange Programme (EEP) between the two governments, Network of Higher Education Institutions of India and Russia (known as the RIN), Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), and the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) programme.

ITEC:

  1. Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme was instituted by Ministry of External Affairs, India in 1964. It is one of the world's oldest and most respected capacity-building platforms, having trained over 200,000 applicants from 160+ countries. It offers nearly 10,000 fully-funded training opportunities annually through approximately 400 courses at 100+ premier Indian institutions. Since 2014, close to 100,000 trainings and scholarships have been delivered. ITEC operates through multiple modalities: on-campus programmes, eITEC (online delivery), ITEC-Executive (short-term, policy-focused trainings for senior officials), ITEC-Onsite, and ITEC-Expert (onsite assignments by Indian experts). Country-specific customized programmes are also organised on request.

From the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India, Vladivostok, 27 alumni have successfully completed ITEC programmes over the last three financial years — 5 in 2023–24, 4 in 2024–25, and 18 in 2025–26 — representing diverse regions of the Russian Far East including Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Yakutia, and Kamchatka. These participants attended courses across a wide range of disciplines at India's leading institutions, including entrepreneurship and small business development, yoga instruction, English language proficiency, natural heritage conservation, women's leadership, international trade and WTO studies, public health management, audit and financial discipline, heritage textiles, and rehabilitation of offenders — reflecting the breadth and depth of India's capacity-building expertise.

Diaspora & people-to-people ties:

  1.     The people-to-people ties remain strong with gradual increase in bilateral tourism. The facility of e-visas for both countries has helped accelerate this process. Prominent Indians have been conferred Russian state awards for their contribution to building and strengthening Russia-India political, scientific and cultural ties. In 2022, Russian Professor Tatyana Shaumyan conferred the prestigious award Padma Shri by Government of India for her contributions towards Literature & Education.

Multilateral cooperation:

  1. India and Russia cooperate closely at several multilateral platforms such as the UN, G20, BRICS & SCO. This cooperation has been strengthened further through regular exchanges and mutual support during India’s Presidencies of the G20 and SCO in 2023 and Russia’s BRICS Presidency in 2024. Russia has consistently expressed support for India’s candidature for a permanent seat the UN Security Council.

Conclusion:

  1. The bilateral relationship has remained strong and stable over the past 78 years. The India-Russia partnership has been among the steadiest in the contemporary era with a shared commitment to a multipolar world as well to expand the engagement beyond the traditional military, nuclear and space cooperation. In the past three years, the bilateral trade has expanded significantly. There are discussions on ways to increase exports from India as well developing new models of cooperation. Both countries are also looking to strengthen inter-regional cooperation, especially with the Russian Far East and promote connectivity initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor and the Northern Sea Route. There is a synergy between Russia’s pivot to the East, its resources and technology and India’s own flagship initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.

May 2026

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