September 12, 2026
New Delhi, September 2026: As India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, India-Russia relations are receiving fresh attention, with both countries looking to expand cooperation across trade, defence, energy, technology, education and people-to-people ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin also met in New Delhi ahead of the summit to review progress in bilateral cooperation.
India-Russia Partnership Gets a Fresh Push
During their meeting, Modi and Putin discussed cooperation in political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people relations. Both leaders agreed to continue strengthening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
The discussions come as India seeks to deepen its role within BRICS while maintaining strong bilateral ties with Russia.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
Trade remains a major focus of the India-Russia relationship. Both countries are working towards increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. At the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, India also called for greater market access, simpler regulations, stronger supply chains and wider use of local currencies in trade.
Cooperation is also expanding into areas such as pharmaceuticals, engineering, electronics, automobiles, services and emerging technologies.
Defence, Energy and Technology
Defence and energy continue to be important pillars of India-Russia cooperation, while newer areas such as technology and industrial manufacturing are gaining attention.
The two countries also highlighted the importance of INNOPROM India 2026, held in New Delhi from September 9-11, as a platform for strengthening industrial and trade partnerships.
Education and Innovation Take Centre Stage
Education is another important part of India’s BRICS agenda. The BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting held in August 2026 focused on areas including student and faculty mobility, research and innovation, skill development, mutual recognition of qualifications and academic leadership.
Alongside the summit, the BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition is showcasing Indian deep-tech startups and creating opportunities for partnerships between universities, innovators, investors and institutions across BRICS countries.
For Indian students, these developments highlight the growing importance of academic exchange, international exposure and people-to-people connections between BRICS nations.
What BRICS 2026 Means for India-Russia Relations
The latest developments show that India-Russia cooperation is moving beyond traditional areas such as defence and energy. Trade, technology, education, healthcare, innovation and skill mobility are increasingly becoming part of the relationship.
As BRICS 2026 continues in New Delhi, the summit offers an opportunity to strengthen these connections further and build greater cooperation between India, Russia, and other member countries.
For students considering international education, the growing focus on education and academic cooperation within BRICS is another important development to watch.