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India’s Manufacturing Gap Shadows Modi’s Russia, China Talks
India is meeting Russia and China during the BRICS gathering in Delhi.
The meetings will discuss politics, trade and investment.
India buys much more from Russia than it sells there, mainly because Russia sells oil and other natural resources.
China sells many manufactured products to Russia, but India does not yet make enough similar products competitively.
India also buys many Chinese goods used by its own factories.
This helps Indian businesses, but it also makes India dependent on China.
India wants Russia and China to buy more Indian products and invest more in India.
The article says friendly diplomacy cannot replace the factories, supply chains and reforms India needs.
India’s biggest challenge is therefore strengthening its manufacturing economy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Delhi.
India exported less than $5 billion to Russia while importing $63.8 billion in 2024-25, creating a nearly $59 billion deficit.
China exported about $103 billion in goods to Russia in 2025, highlighting India’s limited ability to supply manufactured products.
India-China trade reached about $151 billion in 2025-26, while India’s deficit with China rose to roughly $112 billion.
The article argues that diplomacy can open markets, but industrial reform and stronger manufacturing are needed to fill them.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are the main leaders discussed.
- What
- India is pursuing bilateral economic discussions with Russia and China while confronting weak manufacturing capacity and large trade deficits.
- Where
- The BRICS gathering and the India-Russia international industrial trade fair are taking place in Delhi.
- When
- Modi and Putin are scheduled to meet Friday, with the BRICS summit taking place over the weekend; the article cites trade figures for 2024-25, 2025 and 2025-26.
- Why
- India wants Russia and China to buy more Indian products, invest in India and help strengthen its productive capacity, but its manufacturing base remains limited.
Key facts
- India-Russia exports
- Below $5 billion in 2024-25
- India-Russia imports
- $63.8 billion in 2024-25
- India-Russia trade deficit
- Nearly $59 billion
- China-Russia exports
- About $103 billion in 2025
- India-China trade
- About $151 billion in 2025-26
- India-China trade deficit
- Roughly $112 billion in 2025-26
- India-Russia event
- The first India-Russia international industrial trade fair is being held in Delhi
Sources
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