Archive · 5 Oct 2026
India Seeks Balanced Russia Trade as Worker Mobility Expands
India and Russia want to grow their business relationship in more ways.
Russia has agreed to take about 70,000 skilled workers from India this year, especially for construction and logistics jobs.
India also wants to sell more goods to Russia.
Trade between the countries is much larger in goods India buys than in goods it sells.
Much of India's spending on Russian goods is for energy.
Jaishankar said India wants to protect its consumers and buy energy from multiple sources.
He also said India supports talks and diplomacy to help end the Ukraine conflict.
About 140 Indians serving in the Russian military have been discharged, and India is seeking information about 55 others.
Russia has agreed to take around 70,000 skilled Indian workers this year, particularly for construction and logistics.
India wants to expand exports to Russia across automobiles, pharmaceuticals, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles.
India-Russia merchandise trade was about $59.86 billion in 2025-26, with Indian exports of $4.49 billion and imports of $55.36 billion.
Energy remains central to trade; Jaishankar said India prioritizes consumer interests and maintaining multiple sources of supply.
Jaishankar said around 140 Indian nationals serving in the Russian military have been discharged, while India is seeking information about 55 others.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefed a parliamentary consultative committee on India-Russia relations.
- What
- The briefing covered worker mobility, trade and energy ties, Ukraine diplomacy, and Indian nationals serving in the Russian military.
- When
- Saturday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Where
- At a parliamentary consultative committee meeting; the location is not stated.
- Why
- To discuss India's engagement with Russia and plans to expand trade in a more balanced manner.
- Workers
- Russia has agreed to take around 70,000 skilled Indian workers this year, particularly in construction and logistics.
- Trade value
- India-Russia merchandise trade stood at about $59.86 billion in 2025-26.
- Trade balance
- Indian exports were about $4.49 billion; imports from Russia were about $55.36 billion.
- Export priorities
- Automobiles, pharmaceuticals, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles.
- Energy imports
- Russian petroleum, crude and petroleum products accounted for about $44.38 billion of India's imports from Russia in 2025-26.
- Discharged nationals
- Around 140 Indian nationals serving in the Russian military have been discharged.
- Nationals being traced
- India is in contact with Russian authorities about the whereabouts of 55 Indian nationals reportedly working for the Russian Army.
- Trade ambition
- The countries have targeted $100 billion in bilateral trade and $50 billion in two-way investment by 2030, according to the article.
