lndia inaugurates two consulates in Russia as ties deepen

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has unveiled plaques for the missions in Kazan and Ekaterinburg

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will inaugurate new Indian consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg on Wednesday.

He unveiled plaques of these two consulates from Moscow earlier on Wednesday.

Jaishankar is in Russia for the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and to prepare for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India in December.

“The opening of the consulate [s] will give an impetus to enable and to strengthen the technological, scientific, economic, and trade collaboration between Indian and Russian industries,” Jaishankar said.

The move is part of a push to expand India’s diplomatic footprint in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

India also has consulates in St. Petersburg and Vladivostok, apart from its embassy in Moscow.

New Delhi is holding discussions for a pact on migration aimed at protecting the rights of its workers in Russia, according to Indian media reports. 

India’s ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, confirmed earlier this year that the countries are actively negotiating a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.

The South Asian nation is preparing to send skilled workers to Russia amid efforts to expand trade and boost economic ties, a top official of the southern state of Telangana said in October.

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India – with 1.46 billion people, or 17.78% of the global population – has a young demographic structure. The median age is just 28.8.

Around 63,000 Indians currently reside in Russia, including students, entrepreneurs, and laborers, according to India’s Foreign Ministry.

READ MORE: India looking to send skilled workers to Russia – official

The number of Indians pursuing studies in Russia increased by 34% in 2024 compared to 2023.

Applications for Russian employment visas from Indian nationals have risen sharply, with projections for over 40,000 arrivals in 2025 to work across construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.