India and Russia remain close partners in energy, defence, and trade. Bilateral commerce touched $68.7 billion in FY 2024–25, driven by India’s rising dependence on Russian crude and fertilisers. Crude oil accounted for more than a third of India’s import basket from Russia, while fertiliser shipments rose by nearly 370% in two years. India exported barely $5 billion in goods, largely pharmaceuticals, tea, engineering products, and marine items — revealing a wide structural imbalance.

This backdrop explains why both governments are now turning to mobility and tourism to broaden engagement. Tourism is a low-friction economic lever that supports aviation, hospitality, education, and small business linkages. It creates people-to-people familiarity that cannot be replicated through strategic or energy cooperation alone. With President Vladimir Putin scheduled to visit India this week, the planned visa-free group travel agreement is emerging as a significant step in diversifying the bilateral relationship.

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