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Executive Summary
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, much of the discussion surrounding Russian influence in India has focused on media narratives, strategic autonomy, and India's refusal to align with Western sanctions. While these factors remain important, they reveal only part of a much broader picture.
This research argues that Russia's influence in India is sustained not only through information campaigns and geopolitical narratives but through a multilayered humanitarian, educational, cultural, and youth infrastructure. At the center of this ecosystem stands Rossotrudnichestvo and its representative office, the Russian House in New Delhi, which functions as a coordination hub connecting universities, schools, youth organizations, BRICS-related initiatives, cultural programs, alumni networks, diaspora structures, and policy communities.
Rather than relying solely on persuasion through media, Russia has invested in long-term relationship-building mechanisms designed to engage Indian students, academics, young professionals, future leaders, and opinion-makers. Educational summits, language centers, scholarship programs, youth leadership schools, cultural initiatives, and institutional partnerships collectively form a durable influence architecture that extends far beyond traditional public diplomacy.
Introduction
For decades, discussions of Russian influence in India have centered on defense cooperation, energy partnerships, and the legacy of Soviet–Indian friendship. Following the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, analysts increasingly focused on Russian media activities, particularly the role of RT, Sputnik, and other information channels in shaping Indian perceptions of the conflict.
However, an exclusive focus on media influence risks overlooking a far more significant development. Since 2022, Russia has expanded and consolidated a network of educational, cultural, academic, and youth-oriented initiatives across India. These initiatives operate through formal institutions, university partnerships, scholarship programs, youth forums, language centers, alumni networks, and BRICS-related structures.
Unlike media narratives, which may fluctuate with political developments, these mechanisms are designed to generate long-term relationships and institutional connections capable of enduring for decades.
Understanding Russia's contemporary influence in India therefore requires moving beyond the information space and examining the broader infrastructure through which Moscow cultivates access, visibility, and influence within Indian society.
Rossotrudnichestvo and Russian House New Delhi: The Central Hub
Virtually every major Russian educational, cultural, and humanitarian initiative identified in India after 2022 leads back to a single institution: the Russian House in New Delhi.
Operating under Rossotrudnichestvo—the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation—the Russian House serves as Moscow's principal public diplomacy platform in India.
Although formally presented as a cultural and educational institution, the Russian House performs a far broader function. It acts as a coordination center linking Russian universities, government agencies, youth organizations, educational initiatives, diaspora groups, cultural programs, and policy forums.
The institution's role extends across several interconnected areas:
Educational Diplomacy
promotion of Russian universities;
scholarship recruitment;
student mobility programs;
academic partnerships;
educational summits.
Youth Engagement
BRICS youth initiatives;
leadership programs;
student forums;
international exchanges.
Cultural Diplomacy
exhibitions;
language promotion;
cultural festivals;
historical memory projects.
Diaspora Engagement
cooperation with Russian compatriot organizations;
community outreach;
cultural associations.
Public Diplomacy
conferences;
lectures;
policy discussions;
expert exchanges.
The recurring appearance of Russian House leadership across virtually all major initiatives highlights its central role within Russia's influence infrastructure.
One of the most prominent figures in this ecosystem is Elena Remizova, Head of the Russian House in New Delhi. Her presence can be traced across educational summits, university partnerships, language center openings, BRICS-related programs, youth initiatives, and public diplomacy activities.
This recurring involvement suggests that the Russian House does not merely host events. Rather, it functions as a strategic platform through which multiple strands of Russian engagement with India are coordinated and reinforced.
Educational Diplomacy and the Expansion of Russian Academic Networks
Education has emerged as one of the most significant pillars of Russia's engagement strategy in India.
According to statements made by both Russian and Indian officials in 2025–2026, approximately 40,000 Indian students were studying in Russian universities. Russian and Indian authorities have publicly stated their ambition to increase this number to 100,000 students by 2030.
This objective represents far more than an educational target.
It signals a long-term effort to deepen institutional and social connections between the two countries by cultivating generations of Indian graduates with direct experience of Russian educational institutions, language, culture, and professional networks.
The Indo-Russian Educational Summit
One of the clearest manifestations of this strategy is the Indo-Russian Educational Summit.
The second summit, held in New Delhi in 2026, brought together:
representatives of Rossotrudnichestvo;
Russian House New Delhi;
the Russian Embassy;
the Association of Indian Universities;
India's National Medical Commission;
senior university administrators;
academic leaders from both countries.
Official statements indicated participation by more than seventy universities, while other sources suggested that the actual number may have exceeded one hundred institutions.
Among the most important Indian participants were:
Professor Vinay Kumar Pathak, President of the Association of Indian Universities;
Dr Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth, Chairman of India's National Medical Commission.
Their involvement demonstrates that cooperation extends beyond individual universities and increasingly engages national-level educational structures.
The summit's agenda focused on:
academic mobility;
mutual recognition of qualifications;
research partnerships;
joint educational programs;
medical education;
technological cooperation.
Importantly, these activities create recurring opportunities for interaction between Russian and Indian academic communities, allowing educational diplomacy to function as a long-term mechanism of relationship building rather than a series of isolated events.
Rus Education and Recruitment Infrastructure
Another important actor is Rus Education, an organization that has emerged as a key intermediary connecting Indian students with Russian universities.
Rus Education has played an active role in organizing educational fairs, university outreach campaigns, and recruitment initiatives across India.
Its participation in major educational events suggests the existence of an increasingly institutionalized recruitment infrastructure supporting Russia's objective of expanding its educational presence in India.
Russian Language and Cultural Centres: Building Permanent Institutional Presence
While educational summits and recruitment campaigns provide periodic opportunities for engagement, Russia has increasingly focused on establishing a more permanent institutional presence within Indian educational institutions.
One of the most significant developments since 2022 has been the expansion of Russian language and cultural centres across Indian universities.
Unlike educational fairs or public events, these centres create continuous points of interaction between Russian institutions and Indian students.
Their significance lies not only in language education but also in their ability to provide access to Russian cultural resources, academic networks, scholarship opportunities, and exchange programmes.
Gujarat University: A New Regional Hub
In March 2026, with the support of the Russian House in New Delhi, a Russian Language and Culture Centre was officially opened at Gujarat University.
The opening ceremony brought together several important actors:
Elena Remizova, Head of Russian House New Delhi;
Dr Neerja Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University;
representatives of local government;
youth activists associated with BRICS initiatives.
The centre provides:
Russian language courses;
cultural programmes;
educational outreach activities;
access to Russian academic resources.
Most notably, the centre includes access to the remote reading facilities of the Presidential Library named after Boris Yeltsin.
This transforms the initiative from a simple language programme into a gateway connecting Indian students to Russian educational and informational infrastructure.
The Gujarat case is particularly important because it demonstrates how Russian engagement increasingly operates through long-term institutional embedding rather than one-off public diplomacy events.
Bangalore and Mumbai: Expanding the Network
Gujarat University is not an isolated case.
Prior to the opening of the Gujarat centre, similar initiatives had already been established in:
Bangalore City University;
Russian House Mumbai.
These centres form part of a broader programme coordinated by Russian House New Delhi aimed at expanding Russian linguistic and cultural infrastructure across Indian higher education institutions.
Several of these centres also provide access to Russian digital educational resources and facilitate direct interaction with Russian universities.
Taken together, they represent the emergence of a distributed educational network extending beyond India's capital.
Youth Engagement and Elite Formation
One of the most revealing aspects of Russia's post-2022 engagement strategy in India is its growing focus on youth leadership programmes and elite formation initiatives.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on current policymakers, Russia appears increasingly interested in cultivating relationships with future academics, diplomats, policy experts, business leaders, and public officials.
MGIMO and the Recruitment of Future Elites
A notable example occurred in May 2026 when the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) organized a major outreach event in New Delhi.
More than 200 Indian students and young professionals participated in presentations focused on:
international relations;
diplomacy;
international business;
global governance.
The event was organized with the support of:
MGIMO;
Russian House New Delhi;
the Russian Embassy in India.
Participants were introduced to:
academic programmes;
scholarship opportunities;
student life;
international career pathways.
MGIMO occupies a unique position within Russia's educational system.
Often described as Russia's premier diplomatic university, it has historically educated diplomats, senior officials, intelligence officers, international lawyers, and foreign policy specialists.
As a result, efforts to recruit Indian students into MGIMO carry significance beyond conventional educational cooperation.
They represent investment in future professional networks that may continue to influence Russia–India relations for decades. In this sense, MGIMO functions not merely as an educational institution but also as a mechanism for cultivating future diplomatic, academic, and professional linkages between Russian and Indian elites.
Higher School of Economics and Expert Communities
The Higher School of Economics (HSE) has emerged as another important actor.
Unlike MGIMO's traditional diplomatic orientation, HSE has become increasingly involved in policy research, governance studies, international cooperation, and BRICS-related initiatives.
HSE's growing role illustrates how Russian educational institutions increasingly function as platforms for international network-building rather than solely academic instruction.
BRICS Networks and Emerging Leadership Communities
Perhaps the most dynamic area of Russian engagement in India since 2022 has been the expansion of BRICS-related youth and leadership initiatives.
These programmes provide Russia with a politically acceptable framework for engagement that is often perceived as multilateral rather than explicitly Russian.
BRICS School "New Generation"
In March 2026, Russian House New Delhi hosted the opening of the International BRICS School "New Generation."
The programme was designed to train young specialists in:
international affairs;
economics;
public policy;
humanitarian cooperation;
BRICS studies.
The initiative involved:
Russian House New Delhi;
the Russian Embassy;
the BRICS Expert Council–Russia;
the Higher School of Economics.
Among the key figures involved were:
Victoria Panova
Vice-Rector of HSE;
Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia;
one of Russia's most visible BRICS policy advocates.
Mikhail Pontser
First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in India.
The participation of both diplomatic and academic actors highlights the strategic importance attached to the programme.
The 2026 edition reportedly brought together approximately 200 participants from around 80 Indian universities and organizations.
Importantly, graduates were encouraged to remain connected through alumni structures and future BRICS activities.
This creates an expanding community of young professionals with direct exposure to Russian academic institutions and policy frameworks.
BRICS Youth Alliance
Another increasingly important actor is the BRICS Youth Alliance.
The organization promotes:
youth exchanges;
leadership programmes;
educational cooperation;
international networking.
Its activities frequently intersect with those of Russian House New Delhi and Russian-supported BRICS initiatives.
A particularly important figure in this ecosystem is Madhish Parikh.
Parikh serves as a leading representative of BRICS Youth Alliance initiatives in India and has emerged as one of the most active non-Russian participants in several Russia-linked educational and youth projects.
His involvement appears across:
BRICS Youth Alliance activities;
educational programmes;
Russian language centre initiatives;
international youth forums;
Russia–India cooperation projects.
The recurring appearance of the same individuals across multiple programmes suggests the gradual emergence of a stable network connecting Russian institutions with Indian youth and academic communities.
Beyond his role in youth programming, Madhish Parikh represents an important example of how Russia-linked initiatives increasingly operate through local Indian intermediaries rather than exclusively through Russian institutions. As Founder of the Elixir Foundation and a leading figure associated with BRICS Youth Alliance activities, Parikh has participated in multiple educational, cultural, and youth-oriented projects connected to Russian House New Delhi. His recurring presence across different initiatives suggests the emergence of locally embedded actors who can facilitate Russia–India engagement beyond formal diplomatic channels.
Cultural Diplomacy and Historical Narratives
Education is only one component of Russia's humanitarian engagement strategy.
Cultural diplomacy remains an equally important mechanism for maintaining visibility and promoting narratives that support Russia's broader foreign policy objectives.
Since 2022, Russian House New Delhi has hosted a wide range of cultural and historical initiatives aimed at Indian audiences.
These activities combine traditional cultural diplomacy with increasingly political forms of historical storytelling.
Artek and Early Youth Outreach
Russia's outreach in India is not limited to universities or young professionals. It also extends to school-age audiences.
A notable example is the promotion of the International Children's Centre Artek through Russian House New Delhi. Indian schoolchildren and students were introduced to Artek's history, infrastructure, international educational programmes, and volunteer opportunities.
Representatives of Artek also visited Indian schools, including Arwachin Bharti Bhawan and Tagore International School, where they presented opportunities for Indian pupils to participate in Artek programmes.
This is significant because it demonstrates that Russian humanitarian outreach begins before university level. The pathway is not simply:
Russian university → Indian student.
It increasingly looks like:
Russian House → Indian schools → youth programmes → Russian language/culture → university recruitment → alumni networks.
In influence terms, this is an early-stage relationship-building mechanism.
Historical Memory and the Mariupol Exhibition
Another important example is the photo exhibition "Mariupol — City of Military Glory" hosted by Russian House New Delhi.
The exhibition combined archival images from the Second World War with contemporary photographs from 2022–2024. The structure of the exhibition created a visual parallel between Soviet wartime memory and Russia's current framing of events in occupied Mariupol.
This is not neutral cultural programming. It represents an attempt to embed Russia's current war narrative into the historical memory framework of the "Great Patriotic War."
The event also included:
a presentation connected to Russian historical narratives;
a reading of Konstantin Simonov's poem "Wait for Me" in Russian and Hindi by students of
Russian House;
a screening of the RT documentary "Donbass. Memory of Generations."
This shows how Russian House links cultural activity, language education, student participation, and state media content into a single narrative environment.
Indian Intermediaries and Civilizational Narratives
The Mariupol event also highlighted the role of Indian intermediaries.
One notable participant was Dalbir Singh, who presented a book titled "Russia Beyond Narratives: Architecture of a Resilient Civilization."
This is important because Russian influence does not rely only on Russian officials or Russian media. Its effectiveness increases when Russian narratives are carried by Indian voices who can frame Moscow's position through concepts familiar to local audiences: civilization, sovereignty, multipolarity, anti-colonial memory, and resistance to Western pressure.
This pattern is central to Russia's wider influence strategy in India.
Diaspora and Compatriot Networks
In addition to educational and cultural initiatives, Russian House New Delhi has also engaged with organizations representing Russian compatriots in India, including the Indian Association of Russian Compatriots (IARS). Although less visible than educational programmes or BRICS-related initiatives, such networks provide additional channels for cultural outreach and community engagement.
Russian media outlets such as RT and Sputnik remain an important component of Moscow's presence in India's information environment. However, the evidence examined in this study suggests that media activity should be viewed as only one element of a broader influence ecosystem.
Educational programmes, cultural initiatives, youth projects, academic partnerships, and BRICS-related activities provide recurring opportunities for engagement that extend beyond the news cycle. In this context, media narratives often reinforce relationships and perceptions already cultivated through institutional networks.
Rather than functioning as a standalone instrument of influence, Russian media appears to operate alongside educational, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives that together contribute to sustaining Russia's visibility and legitimacy within segments of Indian society.
Conclusion: Russia's Embedded Humanitarian Influence Infrastructure in India
Russia's influence in India after 2022 cannot be understood only through RT, Sputnik, defence ties, or energy trade.
The evidence points to a broader and more durable ecosystem.
At its centre is Russian House New Delhi, operating under Rossotrudnichestvo. Around it sits a network of educational summits, Russian language centres, university partnerships, MGIMO outreach, BRICS youth programmes, cultural diplomacy projects, diaspora structures, and media narratives.
The recurring appearance of Elena Remizova across educational summits, university partnerships, language-centre openings, BRICS initiatives, youth programmes, and cultural projects further illustrates the degree to which Russian House New Delhi functions as a coordinating institution rather than merely a venue for public diplomacy events.
This infrastructure reaches multiple audiences:
schoolchildren through Artek and cultural programmes;
students through language centres and university recruitment;
young professionals through BRICS schools and youth networks;
academics through educational summits and research partnerships;
diaspora communities through compatriot organizations;
wider public audiences through media and historical narratives.
The most important feature of this system is its long-term character.
Media narratives can influence short-term perceptions. Educational, youth, cultural, and alumni networks can shape relationships over decades.
That is why Russia's humanitarian infrastructure in India matters. It is not simply about promoting Russian culture or attracting students. It is about building recurring channels of access to future elites, professional communities, educational institutions, and opinion-forming networks.
For Ukraine and its partners, this means that Russian influence in India should not be assessed only through public statements, votes at the UN, or media coverage of the war. It should also be examined through the quieter institutional architecture that sustains Russian presence: who organizes programmes, who participates, which institutions repeat across events, and which networks continue after the public event ends.
Russia's influence in India is therefore best understood not as a single information operation, but as a layered, institutionalized ecosystem designed to preserve Moscow's visibility, legitimacy, and access within one of the most important states of the Global South.
Unlike Russian influence activities in many European countries, which often rely heavily on political actors and information campaigns, Russia's engagement in India appears increasingly rooted in educational diplomacy, youth development, cultural cooperation, and long-term relationship building. Rather than seeking immediate political outcomes, Moscow appears to be investing in future networks of access and influence capable of shaping perceptions, partnerships, and elite relationships over the coming decades.
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