Russia has agreed to take in about 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year, the government told a parliamentary panel

The External Affairs Minister informed the panel that Russia has agreed to host around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year. File. | Photo credit: AP

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (Oct 3, 2026) briefed the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on India’s “multifaceted” engagement with Russia, underlining shared ambitions to expand bilateral trade, investment and energy cooperation.

Mr. Jaishankar, who chaired the meeting on India-Russia relations, also briefed the members on New Delhi’s stance on the Ukraine conflict and its recent diplomatic efforts to contribute to a peaceful settlement.

The foreign minister further informed the panel that Russia has agreed to take in around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year, mainly in construction and logistics, people familiar with the meeting said.

During a discussion on trade and investment ties between the two countries, Mr. Jaishankar mentioned that there is a common ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced manner, including greater Indian exports to Russia in seven areas – auto, pharmaceuticals, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles.

While highlighting India-Russia energy ties, the External Affairs Minister said that New Delhi’s priority is to protect the interests of Indian consumers.

Our approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply, he said, according to the people cited above.

In a post on social media, Mr. Jaishankar said he highlighted various aspects of our multilateral engagement including trade, investment, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations.

The minister said he also mentioned India’s “active support for dialogue and diplomacy to end the Ukrainian conflict”. The people cited above said that India’s recent efforts to help end the Ukrainian conflict and restore peace figured in the discussions.

Mr Jaishankar also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 31 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, where he remarked that “endless war must now give way to the end of war”.

Mr Jaishankar traveled to Ukraine last month and also met the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia in New York a few days ago on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

In his talks, he noted that if India could help end the war in any way, it was ready to do so, the people cited above said.

In this context, Mr Putin’s comments at the Valdai Club in Moscow that Prime Minister Modi “has very good ideas for finding mutually acceptable solutions” to bring peace, they said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andria Sybiha’s recent remarks appreciating India’s efforts were also noted in the Parliamentary Advisory Committee meeting, they added.

Mr. Jaishankar also briefed the panel members on the government’s efforts to secure the release of Indians serving in the Russian Army.

He said the government was in talks with Russian authorities, including at the highest levels, for the early release of all such individuals, the people said.

Mr. Jaishankar told the members that about 140 Indian nationals have been released so far and the Indian side is in touch with the Russian authorities regarding the whereabouts of 55 Indian nationals allegedly working for the Russian military, they said.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 03:03 IST