Overview
- President Droupadi Murmu hosted a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, invoking a ‘Ganga–Volga’ bond as she hailed a long-standing India–Russia partnership.
- Vladimir Putin said talks with Indian counterparts covered politics, security, trade, energy, education and more, expressing confidence the outcomes will accelerate ties.
- India and Russia signed 19 cooperation agreements reported to span shipbuilding, training Indian seafarers for polar routes, investment in new shipping lanes and civil nuclear energy.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Russia India’s most trusted partner, and Putin pledged uninterrupted oil supplies to India despite outside pressure.
- Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were not invited while Shashi Tharoor was; Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said state ceremony invitations are discretionary and consider precedent and past attendance.