Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed agreements on a mutual visa-free policy and on temporary employment of visiting citizens.
The approval followed a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, after Putin visited the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, who led the Indian people’s struggle for national liberation.
Modi and Putin also signed bilateral agreements on combating illegal migration and on the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian-Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030.
Additional partnerships cover healthcare, medical education and science, food safety, training of specialists for ships in polar waters, television and radio broadcasting, investment, trade and exports.
Others focus on a project to build a plant for producing active pharmaceutical substances in Russia’s Kaluga Region, as well as storage, processing, and transmission of data in space systems.
In his remarks, Modi noted that over the past decades, both nations have demonstrated respect for each other’s cultures and have coordinated various measures to strengthen ties.
The head of state described the recent opening of two Indian consulates in Russia as a significant step to “facilitate contacts for all our citizens and bring our nations even closer together.”
The Prime Minister recalled that in October 2025, hundreds of thousands of Indian pilgrims received blessings at the sacred relics of the Buddha Shakyamuni in Kalmykia, Russia.
“I am confident that we will soon implement a 30-day visa-free regime for tourist groups, which will greatly enhance travel between our countries,” he said.
Modi commended the signing of key instruments to advance the initiative, adding that the measure will deepen professional development, including through increased student and academic exchanges.
Speaking, Putin said that many of the agreements are aimed at expanding economic partnership as Russia and India are “important partners in trade, investment, and technology”.
Bilateral trade grew by 12 per cent [$64- $65 billion] in 2024, reaching a new record. The figure is expected to increase to $100 billion as projected in the 2030 Development Cooperation document.
On Russia’s construction of the Kudankulam NPP, India’s largest nuclear power station, the President confirmed that two reactors have been connected to the power grid, with the other four at different stages.
At full capacity, the plant will give companies and households access to affordable and clean energy, while the small modular reactors and floating NPPs could serve healthcare, among others.
Putin also announced ongoing work with Indian partners on new international transport routes, including a project to create the North-South corridor linking Russia and Belarus to the Indian Ocean.
Modi, Putin approve India-Russia visa-free policy, citizens’ employment
