Putin wraps up two-day India visit after Rashtrapati Bhavan banquet | Highlights

Vladimir Putin India visit live updates: Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome and a tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, before he goes to Raj Ghat to pay homage at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

In the evening, Putin will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu. The Russian leader is expected to leave India at around 9 pm on Friday.

Vladimir Putin India visit live updates: Following the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides are expected to ink a plethora of agreements, including one on facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia, and another on logistical support under a broader framework of defence cooperation.

It is learnt that under the trade basket, Indian exports to Russia are expected to significantly increase in areas of pharma, agriculture, food products and consumer goods, PTI reported.

Vladimir Putin India visit live updates: It is Russia’s official presidential state car, often compared to a Rolls Royce, and is touted as a fortress on wheels for keeping the Russian President secure for years.

On the exterior, the Aurus Senat is heavily armoured, with 20-inch bulletproof wheels and can even withstand armour-piercing bullets, chemical attacks and grenade blasts.

According to the Moscow Times, Putin's beloved Aurus Senat now sells for around 50 million rubles ($617,500 or ₹5.5 crore). More details about the car here.

Putin India visit live updates: Traffic restrictions and diversions are in place in several parts of the national capital, including central Delhi, on Friday in view of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit, the Delhi Police said in an advisory and advised commuters to plan their journey accordingly.

Office-goers and commuters will face traffic diversions on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath Road, Pragati Maidan tunnel, ITO Chowk, among others.

Putin India visit live updates: PM Modi, in a post on X, said that the "friendship" between the two leaders is a "time-tested one" and he was delighted to welcome Putin back to India after four years.

"Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people," he wrote in the post.

Putin India visit live updates: Boards and flexes, along with Indian and Russian national flags, have been placed in the India Gate and Kartavya Path areas as the capital prepares for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

During his two-day state visit, Putin will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, take up key trade and defence agreements, and join inter-governmental and business meetings.

Putin India visit live updates: Major General Pawan Anand (Retd) and director of united service institution of India on Thursday discussed India's balanced approach to its strategic relationships with the US, Russia, and other global powers amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India.

He said, "In this bilateral relationship, which is a strategic one and highly time-tested, I think India has found its balance between the US, Russia, and the other powers that dominate the global geopolitical situation. I think, as far as defence goes, we have to strengthen our defence equipment posture, for which we do require a bolstering from the Russians as well…”

Putin India visit live updates: As Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the importance of the relationship with Moscow, saying that from oil and gas to defence equipment, Russia has stood by India, and that the ties between the two countries remain independent of India's relations with the US and China.

Highlighting India's approach to foreign policy, Tharoor said New Delhi maintains strategic autonomy and independent bilateral ties. “No one should misunderstand that this will affect our relationships with other countries, because India has the capacity to have independent relationships with different governments…”

Putin in India live: Former diplomat Arun Singh told ANI about the importance of the India-Russia partnership, describing the political and defence support that Moscow has provided to New Delhi over the years.

"This is an important visit. I have had occasion to serve twice in Moscow. I served at the time of the Soviet Union and then in the 1990s in the Russian Federation after dissolution of the Soviet Union. And I could sense that there is a historical nature to the partnership," he said.

Putin in India live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented a copy of Bhagavad Gita in Russian to President Vladimir Putin, who is on a two-day visit to India.

In a post on X, PM Modi shared a photograph of the moment, describing the scripture as a source of inspiration for millions of people across the world. "Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world," PM Modi said.

Putin in India live: Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, saying that the Indian PM does not succumb to pressure from any country.

“Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious,” he said.

Putin in India live: After his arrival, PM Modi and Putin repeated their moment from Tianjin and travelled in the same car from the airport to the Prime Minister's residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The two leaders were seen talking and sharing some laughs as they 'carpooled' together.

Following the rare carpool, PM Modi and Russian President Putin reached the official residence of the prime minister, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, where he was hosted for a private dinner, details of which have not yet been revealed.

Putin in India live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on Friday, aiming to boost trade with the top buyer of Russia's arms and seaborne oil as Western sanctions squeeze their decades-old ties.