Putin Arrives in New Delhi, PM Modi gifts Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a short but high-profile 27-hour visit that India views as a reaffirmation of one of its oldest and most enduring strategic partnerships.

President Putin landed at Palam airport at around 6:35 pm, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received him with a warm hug. The two leaders then drove together in the Prime Minister’s car to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, where Mr. Modi hosted a private dinner for the visiting leader. The closed-door dinner, seen as a reciprocal gesture after the hospitality extended to Mr. Modi during his Moscow visit last year, lasted nearly three hours and concluded after 10 pm.

Throughout the evening, Prime Minister Modi shared updates on X. His first post featured photographs of the two leaders at the airport and in the car, captioned: “Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India… India–Russia friendship is a time-tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.” Later, around 11:30 pm, he posted another photo from the dinner, showing him presenting President Putin with a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita. “The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world,” he wrote.

The bilateral summit is scheduled for Friday. The day will begin with a ceremonial welcome for President Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a visit to Rajghat where he will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Delegation-level talks and a working lunch will take place at Hyderabad House, the traditional venue for India’s highest-level diplomatic engagements.

Later in the day, the Russian President will inaugurate a new India-based channel of the Russian state broadcaster. The visit will conclude with a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. President Putin is expected to depart New Delhi around 9 pm on Friday.