New Delhi: In a joint press statement with the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will soon offering a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30 day group tourist visa for Russian Citizens.
He said this step will make travel easier and bring people of both countries even closer.
Reportedly, the talks were held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. He stressed that the relationship between the people of India and Russia has always been marked by warmth, trust, and friendship.
People-to-people ties at the heart of relations
PM Modi said that for many decades, the people of both nations have shared a strong emotional connection. He added that the government has taken several new steps to strengthen these ties.
He noted that India has recently opened two new consulates in Russia, which will make it easier for citizens of both countries to connect with each other. “This will promote smoother contact and increase closeness,” he said.
Referring to a major cultural event earlier this year, PM Modi highlighted how hundreds of thousands of devotees in Kalmykia welcomed the sacred relics of Lord Buddha during the International Buddhist Forum in October. He said this showed the deep cultural and spiritual link between the two countries.
New visa schemes to boost travel and people mobility
PM Modi expressed happiness in announcing India’s plan to introduce free e-tourist visas for 30 days as well as 30-day group tourist visas for Russians. He said that easier mobility between the two countries will open up new opportunities in tourism, business, and cultural exchange.
“Manpower mobility will not only connect our people but also create new strength and new opportunities for both countries,” the Prime Minister said. He also mentioned that two agreements to promote mobility had been signed during the visit.
The Prime Minister added that India and Russia will increase cooperation in vocational education, skills training and student exchanges. He said that both governments will encourage more interactions among students, scholars, and sportspersons.
Buddhist relics in Russia received historic response
PM Modi’s comments came shortly after a major cultural event in October, when India sent the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha to Russia for exposition. The relics were displayed at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery, also known as the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha, in Kalmykia.
The event drew a record number of visitors, with thousands offering prayers and paying homage. It was seen as a powerful symbol of the shared spiritual heritage between the two nations and received wide appreciation from the local Buddhist community.
New consulates mark expanded diplomatic presence
Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated the new Consulates General of India in Yekaterinburg and Kazan in Russia. Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the two new missions would give a strong boost to bilateral relations.
EAM Jaishankar said he was confident that the opening of these consulates would expand India’s diplomatic reach in Russia and also promote stronger ties across multiple areas.
He stated that the new missions would act as a catalyst to increase cooperation in trade, tourism, science, technology, education and culture. The move, he said, marks an important new phase in the long-standing India-Russia partnership.
Strengthening a historic friendship
The announcements made on Friday highlight India’s effort to deepen cultural and people-centric engagement with Russia. With new consulates, expanded mobility agreements and the introduction of free tourist visas, both countries aim to make travel smoother and build stronger personal connections among their citizens.
The steps come at a time when India and Russia are celebrating multiple milestones in their strategic partnership, reinforcing the idea that people-to-people relations remain a core pillar of their friendship.