India and Russia will soon sign a new deal on worker mobility during the annual summit in New Delhi next month, as reported by The Economic Times. The agreement aims to protect Indian workers in Russia and open more job opportunities for them in the coming years.
This comes as India’s oil imports from Russia are set to drop next month after new US sanctions on two Russian oil firms.
With its population shrinking, Russia is looking to bring in more foreign workers. Many Indians there currently work in construction and textiles, but there’s rising demand for skilled workers in machinery and electronics. By the end of 2025, about 70,000 Indians are expected to work in Russia under a new quota.
The pact will likely be signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December for his annual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s labour minister has already discussed the issue with his Russian counterpart in Doha. Experts say the growing Indian community could become an important part of India–Russia relations.
Economic ties between the two countries are also growing. India’s imports of Russian diamonds and gold have risen sharply this year. In August 2025, Russian diamond exports to India were valued at $31.3 million, more than double last year’s figure. However, total imports from Russia have dropped due to Western sanctions restricting Russian-origin diamonds, even if processed elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Indian diamond industry faces a 50% tariff in the US on cut and polished diamonds — partly linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
According to the Indian Embassy in Moscow, around 14,000 Indians live in Russia, including 500 business owners and 4,500 students, most studying medicine. About 300 Indian companies operate there, trading in tea, coffee, rice, spices, pharmaceuticals, and leather goods.
Groups like Hindustani Samaj, ISKCON, and Bhartiya Sanskritik Samaj continue to promote Indian culture and strengthen ties between the two nations.
