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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO- 312
ANSWERED ON- 13/03/2026
INDIA RUSSIA ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT
*312. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen economic
engagement with the Russian Federation, including cooperation in
sectors such as energy, defence manufacturing, pharmaceuticals,
fertilisers and critical minerals;
(b) the initiatives undertaken to facilitate mobility of skilled
professionals, students and technical experts between India and Russia
under bilateral frameworks, including recognition of qualifications and
institutional partnerships; and
(c) the number of Indian and Russian skilled professionals, technical
experts and students who have participated in official exchange
programmes, internships or employment-linked mobility initiatives during
FY 2025–26?
1ANSWER
MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)
(a to c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
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2Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred
Question No. 312 for reply on 13.03.2026 regarding “INDIA RUSSIA
ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT.”
India and Russia have established bilateral mechanisms to strengthen
economic cooperation, such as the India-Russia Intergovernmental
Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural
Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). Under the IRIGC-TEC mechanism, sectoral
working groups focus on priority areas such as Trade & Economic
Cooperation, Industrial Cooperation, Energy Cooperation, Chemicals and
Fertilizers, Information and Communication Technology,
Pharmaceuticals and Mining. The 26th Session of the IRIGC-TEC
mechanism, co-chaired by EAM and Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister,
was held in Moscow on 20 August 2025.
With regard to cooperation in Defence, India and Russia have an
Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical
Cooperation, which is co-chaired by the Defence Ministers of the two
countries. The 23rd Session of the IRIGC-M&MTC was held in New Delhi
on 04 December 2025.
President Vladmir Putin visited India during 4-5 December 2025, for
the 23rd Annual Summit, during which both leaders had the chance to
3review the entire gamut of our bilateral relations. During the visit, 16
MoUs/Agreements were signed across a range of sectors, including
migration and mobility, health and food safety, maritime cooperation in
polar waters, fertilizers, customs and commerce, academic
collaboration, and media cooperation. Among these was the Agreement
between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of
the Russian Federation on the Temporary Labour Activity of citizens of
one State in the territory of the other State. The Agreement regulates
the mobility and recruitment process of workers with work permit and
workers engaged in part time work on student visas. It provides for
protection of the rights of workers including social security,
remuneration and compensation for termination, in accordance with the
local laws.
Collaboration in higher education, including between universities
and research institutions, is facilitated through mechanisms such as the
Educational Exchange Programme (EEP), the India–Russia Network of
Higher Education Institutions (RIN), the Scheme for Promotion of
Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), and the Global Initiative
of Academic Networks (GIAN). Russia has also been an active country
for ITEC and ICCR scholarships.
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