Russian President Vladimir Putin received a grand red-carpet welcome with a military parade at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him as he arrived on the second day of his two-day visit to India. Putin watched the ceremonial guard of honour and military band performance. President Murmu also introduced India’s key ministers and top officials, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, to the visiting leader. In return, Putin introduced members of his delegation to the Indian President. After the ceremony, President Putin visited the Mahatma Gandhi memorial to pay his respects. Later, he is scheduled to hold official talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi. During the meeting, India and Russia are expected to sign around 25 agreements covering defence, nuclear energy, technology, trade, and space cooperation. The annual India-Russia summit began in 2000, and last year’s 22nd summit was held in Moscow in July.
