Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Vladimir Putin with a Russian edition of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, along with Assam black tea, Kashmiri saffron, a Murshidabad silver tea set, a silver horse from Maharashtra, and a marble chess set from Agra.
- Modi publicly confirmed the Gita gift in a post on X, calling its teachings an inspiration for millions worldwide.
- The exchange formed part of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi, where leaders also discussed strategic, trade and cultural cooperation.
- Indian media and officials framed the gifts as deliberate cultural diplomacy that showcased spiritual texts and artisanal craftsmanship to deepen people-to-people ties.
- Coverage linked the gesture to an ongoing translation push, noting a Russian Yoga‑Vasishtha was presented to a Russian minister and citing Modi’s 2019 SCO call to translate Indian works.