From Strategic Partnership to Special and Privileged Bond: India-Russia Relations at a Glance

Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner of India. Since the signing of the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, India-Russia ties have evolved significantly, touching political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people cooperation. In December 2010, during the Russian President’s visit to India, this partnership was elevated to the level of a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” Under this Partnership, several institutionalized dialogue mechanisms operate at both political and official levels to ensure regular interaction and follow-up on cooperation activities.

India and Russia also work closely at strategic, economic and defence levels through formalized institutions like India‑Russia Intergovernmental Commission (IRIGC). It has two parts: one is the Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation division (IRIGC‑TEC), led by India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) and Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister (DPM); the other is the Military & Military-Technical Cooperation division (IRIGC‑M&MTC), headed by the defence ministers of the two countries. In December 2021, a new format called the “2+2 Dialogue” was added, where both Foreign and Defence Ministers meet simultaneously. This was done alongside; the summit level talks between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia.

India and Russia continue to nurture their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership through intensive and multi-layered political engagements. The highest institutionalized mechanism remains the Annual Summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation, with 22 summits completed to date. President of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin will be visiting India again from 04 – 05 December 2025 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The upcoming visit of President Putin to India will allow the leaders of both countries to review the progress of India-Russia cooperation, decide the future direction of our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, and discuss important regional and global issues that matter to both nations. The last (22nd) Summit was held in Moscow on 8-9 July 2024, during which the leaders issued a Joint Statement titled “India-Russia: Enduring and Expanding Partnership”. A separate Joint Statement on strategic economic cooperation until 2030 was issued besides signing of 9 MoUs. During the visit, PM of India was conferred on Russia’s highest state decoration, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, for former’s outstanding contribution to India-Russia ties. The leaders met again on 22 October 2024 on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Kazan and again on 01 September 2025 on the sidelines of SCO Heads of States meeting in Tianjin, China and discussed ways to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the countries. The two leaders have maintained frequent telephonic contact, including conversations on 15 January, 20 March, 5 June and 27 August 2024, as well as on 5 May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, during which they reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen cooperation in the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism. Earlier also, on 08 and 18 August 2025, President Putin spoke with PM and briefed him on the latest developments regarding Ukraine in the context of US-Russia’s Alaska Summit.

Ministerial and official-level interactions remain robust between the two countries. EAM and FM Lavrov also 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 Feb in Johannesburg (South Africa).

In his August 2025 visit to Moscow, EAM co-chaired the 26th IRIGC-TEC with First Deputy PM of Russia Manturov. He met President Putin and FM Lavrov, and pushed for faster $100 billion trade by 2030. They had discussions on fast-tracking of opening of two new Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, energy ties, and an India-EAEU FTA. They reviewed recent developments in Ukraine, Middle East, West Asia and Afghanistan. EAM reaffirmed India’s view that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most constructive pathways for addressing differences. He also conveyed India’s concerns regarding Indians serving in the Russian Army, expressing hope for a prompt and considerate resolution of the pending cases.

Raksha Mantri, 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. He earlier visited Moscow from 8-10 December 2024 to co-chair the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) and called on President Vladmir Putin.

National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval visited Moscow on 07-08 August 2025 for the India-Russia NSA-level Strategic Dialogue. During the visit, he 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. NSA also visited St. Petersburg in September 2024 for the BRICS NSAs meeting, during which he met President Putin and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. India was represented at Russia’s 80th Victory Day celebrations on 9 May 2025 by Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth.

At the working level, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held Foreign Office Consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Moscow on 7 March 2025. These sustained high-level exchanges across multiple formats underscore the depth, resilience and forward momentum of India-Russia political relations.

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 26^th 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 session also emphasized the early conclusion of the India–Eurasian Economic Union FTA, whose terms of reference were finalized, along with the need for regular interaction between businesses of both countries to achieve 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. Both countries are working towards ambitious targets set by their leaders: $50 billion in mutual investments by 2025 and $100 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030.

Bilateral trade has grown rapidly and reached a record $68.7 billion in FY 2024-25, with Indian exports at $4.9 billion (mainly pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron & steel, and marine products) and imports from Russia at $63.8 billion (primarily crude oil and petroleum products, sunflower oil, fertilizers, coking coal, and precious stones/metals).

Bilateral trade in services has remained stable during the last few years. It amounted to $1.021 billion for the year 2021. Bilateral investments between the two countries remain strong with a target of $50 billion investment by 2025. The major bilateral investments by Russia in India are in the oil and gas, petrochemicals, banking, railways and steel sectors, while Indian investments in Russia are mainly in oil and gas and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Defence is one of the most important parts of the strong friendship and strategic partnership between India and Russia. Both countries follow a special 10-year agreement that guides all their military and defence technology cooperation. The military-technical cooperation agreement for 2021–2031 inked on 6 December 2021 in New Delhi, focuses on joint research, development, production, and after-sales support of weapons and military equipment.

The longstanding and wide-ranging military technical cooperation between the two countries has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defense technologies and systems. Russia is also an important source for the supply of defense equipment, engines, spare parts and components. Several defense platforms are also assembled/produced in India such as T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI aircraft. Both sides have also been exploring co-development and co-production of defense equipment and platforms, including the possibility of export to other countries such as the Brahmos system.

The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) is co-chaired by India’s Defence Minister and Russia’s Defence Minister. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh visited Russia in December 2024 and Co-Chaired the 21^st IRIGC – M&MTC meeting apart from participating in the commissioning a frigate “INS Tushil” into Indian Navy at Kaliningrad. On 01 July 2025, INS Tamal, the latest stealth multi-role frigate, was also commissioned in Kaliningrad. The 5th Meeting of IRIGC-M&MTC took place in New Delhi on October 28-29 2025.

The 14^th 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. 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 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.

The defense cooperation evolved beyond a mere buyer-seller dynamic to include joint research, development, and co-production of advanced systems. Following are some of the weapon systems:

The Inter-Parliamentary Commission, between the Lok Sabha and the Russian State Duma (lower house), has played a key role in facilitating parliamentary cooperation. It has met five times since its inception (2000, 2003, 2015, 2017, 2018). The Commission is co-chaired by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairperson of the State Duma. The 5th India-Russia Inter Parliamentary Commission was held in India on 09 December 2018.

Chairman of the State Duma (Russia’s lower house of Parliament) Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin paid an official visit to India from 02-04 Feb 2025. During the visit, Volodin called on President and Vice President and had bilateral meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Russian delegation attended the then ongoing 2025 budget session of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. In July 2024, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla led the Indian delegation for the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Saint Petersburg and also had bilateral meetings with Chairman Volodin and Speaker of the Russian Federation Council (Upper House of Parliament) Ms. Valentina Matvienko.

In the context of Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor, an all-party delegation led by Ms. KanimozhiKarunanidhi 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, Indian parliamentary delegation including Hon’ble MPs Shri RajkumarChahar, 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.

Science & Technology has played a key role in the bilateral India-Russia partnership, especially in the early days after India’s independence. Today, India & Russia work together on basic sciences, materials science, mathematics and cutting-edge areas like India’s manned spaceflight program (Gaganyaan), nanotechnologies etc. India’s only nuclear power plant established with another country is in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu which established in collaboration with Russia. The bilateral cooperation is guided by the new roadmap for Science, Technology & Innovation signed during the 21^st 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.

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 about 20,000 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. 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.

Russia has been an active partner country for ITEC scholarship. In 2024-25 around 17 Russian nationals took part in ITEC while in 2023-24, around 23 Russian nationals took the ITEC scholarship when compared to 100+ number during pre-Covid years. On 19 September, Embassy celebrated ITEC Day 2025.

India and Russia enjoy deep-rooted and centuries-old cultural relations that predate India’s independence, tracing back to the 15th-century travels of Russian merchant Afanasy Nikitin, traders settling in Astrakhan, and the founding of a Russian theatre in Kolkata by Gerasim Lebedev. Prominent Russian scholars and artists such as Nicholas Roerich Generations of Russians have grown up watching iconic Indian films, and since the 1980s yoga has gained immense popularity, especially in major cities.

People-to-people contacts continue to strengthen, with a marked increase in tourist flows in both directions and ongoing efforts to ease visa regimes. The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre in Moscow, established in 1989, serves as the primary institution for promoting Indian culture in Russia through regular classes in Kathak, yoga, tabla, and Hindustani vocal music, as well as collaborations with Russian universities and cultural organisations. A number of Russian universities and institutions, teach Indian languages. Under the Cultural Exchange Programme and the ICCR-Russian Ministry of Culture Protocol (regularly renewed), Indian cultural troupes visit Russia almost every year; in 2023 five groups performed across multiple regions, showcasing Warrior Women of India, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Rajasthani folk dance. ICCR also offers four dedicated scholarship schemes for Russian nationals to pursue higher studies in humanities, science, Ayurveda, dance, and music in India.

The Second Indian Film Festival was held from 04-15 October 2025 across five Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yakutsk and Vladivostok. 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 Muscovites. The XIth International Day of Yoga (2025) was celebrated in 60+ regions of Russia. In Moscow’s VDNKH complex (June 21) more than 1000 people participated in Yoga demonstration and master classes on Ayurveda and meditation.

India was the Guest of Honour country for 2025 in the Moscow International Book Fair during 3-7 September2025. On 11 October, the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha arrived in Elista, Republic of Kalmykia, for exposition. The relics were accompanied to Russia by Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya and were accompanied back to India by Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha.

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. India will take up the BRICS Chairship in 2026, it will work for strengthening cooperation in BRICS through the institutionalization of its processes.

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 two 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.