India-Russia Strategic Partnership
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This partnership is crucial for understanding India's foreign policy, energy security, defence preparedness, and its role in a multipolar world. It highlights India's ability to maintain relations with diverse global powers despite external pressures.
India and Russia share a long-standing strategic partnership characterized by cooperation across various sectors including defence, energy, trade, and technology, forming a crucial pillar of India's foreign policy. This relationship has evolved to address contemporary geopolitical challenges while maintaining its core strength.
Facts & tables
- Defence Cooperation
- Russia is a major supplier of military equipment, including the S-400 air defence system.
- Energy Security
- Russia ensures uninterrupted fuel shipments to India.
- Economic Ties
- Bilateral trade is projected to hit a $100 billion milestone.
- Political Alignment
- Russia considers India a 'reliable partner' and supports its independent foreign policy.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Long-standing strategic partnership.
- Key pillars: Defence, Energy, Trade.
- S-400 air defence system.
- Uninterrupted fuel shipments.
- Target $100 billion bilateral trade.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2018 | Conceptual understanding, Policy measures |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2018
Conceptual understanding, Policy measures
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Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
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Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Policy measures
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Putin calls India reliable partner, hits out at Western interference
The India-Russia strategic partnership is a multifaceted relationship encompassing defence, energy, and economic cooperation, underpinned by mutual trust and respect for independent foreign policies, despite Western attempts to influence India.
See also
Past papers
2019–2024 · 5 questions
In the news
Putin calls India reliable partner, hits out at Western interference
The India-Russia strategic partnership is a multifaceted relationship encompassing defence, energy, and economic cooperation, underpinned by mutual trust and respect for independent foreign policies, despite Western attempts to influence India.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the answer using the code given below :
* Statement 1 is incorrect: Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023 was a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka. * Statement 2 is correct: The ninth edition of Joint Military exercise “Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023” commenced in Aundh (Pune). * Statement 3 is correct: The Scope of the exercise includes synergizing joint responses during counter-terrorist operations. * Statement 4 is correct: 15 personnel from Indian Air Force and five personnel from Sri Lankan Air Force participated in the exercise.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.
Statement-II : Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement I is correct. The Sumed Pipeline is indeed a significant route for transporting oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf to Europe. It bypasses the Suez Canal, offering an alternative path for these resources. Statement II is also correct. The Sumed Pipeline physically connects the Red Sea (where oil and gas are loaded onto ships from the Persian Gulf) with the Mediterranean Sea, providing a direct route for them to reach European ports. The connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea established by the Sumed Pipeline directly explains its strategic importance for transporting oil and gas to Europe. Statement II provides the geographical context for how Statement I functions.
Consider the following pairs :
Country | Reason for being in the news|
|- | -|
|1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis|
|2. Sudan | War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces|
|3. Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO|
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
* Argentina - Worst economic crisis: Correct. Argentina has been facing a severe economic crisis for a while, marked by high inflation, debt, and poverty. * Sudan - War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces: Correct. Sudan has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. * Turkey - Rescinded its membership of NATO: Incorrect. Turkey has not rescinded its membership of NATO. While there have been tensions between Turkey and other NATO members, it remains a member. _Therefore, only two out of the three pairs are correctly matched._
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?
* India signed the ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia. * India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. * The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel cycle management, nuclear power projects, and research in nuclear science and technology. * Russia has been a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom, which has been involved in building Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. * Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also engaged in nuclear cooperation with India but were not part of this specific agreement.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.
II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.
III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
*The 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024 under Russia’s chairship. Russia held the rotating presidency in 2024, and the summit took place from October 22-24 in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*Indonesia became a full member of BRICS in January 2025, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation and the 10th member of the bloc.* ❌ Statement III: Incorrect
*The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit is "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." The statement used "Multiculturalism" instead of "Multilateralism," making it incorrect for this question.* Therefore, only statements I and II are correct.
In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?
India signed the Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement on May 15, 2009. An additional protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the Government of India and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities entered into force on 25 July 2014. Hence option 1 is correct.
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.