Beyond summits, trade figures and defence deals, the soul of the India–Russia relationship lives in its people-to-people connections – in classrooms and concert halls, yoga studios and film festivals, student hostels and joint research labs. These ties give the partnership resilience and warmth that statistics alone cannot capture.
The Indian Community in Russia: A Small but Impactful Presence
The Indian community in Russia, including Persons of Indian Origin, is estimated at around 70,000 people. They may be modest in number, but their contribution is significant and visible across multiple sectors – from pharmaceuticals and IT to education and small business.
Indian companies such as Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hetero, Ranbaxy, NIIT and TCS have a strong presence, employing both Indian and Russian professionals and acting as bridges between the two economies. Indian banks and financial institutions have also played a role in facilitating trade and investment flows.
In recent years, bilateral tourism has been rising, aided by the introduction of e-visa facilities for both sides, making it easier for tourists, businesspeople and students to travel. Russian visitors to India, drawn by its culture, spirituality and landscapes, are increasingly visible in popular destinations, while Indian tourists explore Moscow’s museums, St Petersburg’s canals and Russia’s vast natural beauty.
Education: A Two-Way Street of Knowledge and Opportunity
One of the most enduring dimensions of people-to-people ties is education. For decades, Indian students have gone to Russia to study medicine, engineering, aviation, economics and other disciplines. Today, medical students constitute the largest group among Indian students in Russia, attracted by quality education and globally recognised degrees.
Educational cooperation is supported by a rich ecosystem of inter-governmental programmes and institutional networks, including:
- The Educational Exchange Programme (EEP) between the two governments;
- The Network of Higher Education Institutions of India and Russia (RIN);
- India’s SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration);
- The GIAN (Global Initiative of Academic Networks) programme, which brings leading international faculty – including Russian academics – to Indian campuses.
At the school level, the Atal Innovation Mission in India and Russia’s SIRIUS Centre collaborate to nurture innovation and problem-solving skills among school students, an initiative personally encouraged by the leaders of both countries.
In the other direction, Russian students and scholars are increasingly engaging with India, especially in Indology, international relations, economics and language studies. A number of Russian universities offer courses in Hindi and Sanskrit, reflecting a longstanding fascination with Indian civilisation.
Cultural Affinity: From Tolstoy and Tagore to Bollywood and Yoga
Indian and Russian cultures have influenced each other for more than a century. Russian thinkers and writers, from Tolstoy to Roerich, engaged deeply with Indian philosophy and spirituality. In modern times, Indian cinema captured the Soviet and Russian imagination, with classic Hindi films and songs still affectionately remembered across generations.
Today, this cultural exchange is nurtured through the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) in Moscow, which organises performances, festivals, language classes, exhibitions and outreach events across Russia. Indian dance, music and yoga workshops attract enthusiastic participation from Russians of all ages.
Yoga, in particular, has become a mass phenomenon in Russia, with International Day of Yoga celebrations drawing large crowds in cities from Moscow to Vladivostok. The popularity of Indian classical and contemporary dance, cuisine festivals and literature events sustains a constant cultural conversation between the two societies.
On the Russian side, cultural troupes, theatre groups and classical musicians frequently perform in India, and Russian literature continues to be widely translated and read. Joint film and media projects are also expanding; Russia’s Minister of Culture visited India in 2025 for the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, discussing deeper cooperation in cinematography and audio-visual industries.
Science, Technology and Space: People-to-People at the Frontier
Science and technology cooperation between India and Russia has a strong human dimension. The Roadmap for Science, Technology and Innovation, signed in 2021, envisages closer collaboration between research institutions, universities and private innovators in areas such as materials science, nanotechnology, basic sciences and space.
Russian expertise has contributed significantly to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, while Indian scientists participate in joint projects in nuclear energy, space exploration and cutting-edge research. These collaborations create communities of scientists, engineers and innovators who see each other as colleagues and partners, not just counterparts.
Awards, Honours and Cultural Diplomacy
Russia has conferred high state awards on several prominent Indians for their role in strengthening bilateral ties in science, culture and public service. The conferral of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First-Called on Prime Minister Modi in 2024 was the most recent and visible example of such recognition, but behind it stands a long list of Indian scholars, artistes and public figures who have been honoured in Russia.
These honours are part of a broader pattern of cultural diplomacy and mutual respect, demonstrating that the relationship is not transactional but rooted in real appreciation of each other’s achievements.
Emerging Trends: Digital, Youth and New Cities
Several new trends are shaping people-to-people and cultural ties:
- Digital exchanges – webinars, online language classes, virtual film festivals and joint hackathons – have made it easier for young Indians and Russians to connect regardless of distance.
- Youth exchanges and think-tank dialogues are expanding, often focusing on entrepreneurship, technology and global governance.
- Inter-regional links – between Indian states and Russian regions, especially in the Far East and Arctic – are bringing new cities and universities into contact, beyond the traditional hubs of Moscow, St Petersburg, Delhi and Mumbai.
As India and Russia diversify and modernise their engagement, this human fabric will remain the most reliable guarantor of continuity. Governments can sign agreements, but it is people who sustain partnerships.