Fresh hope for students, parents

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India on December 4 and 5 has infused fresh optimism among students and parents, particularly those exploring opportunities in medicine, engineering and _ specialised technical fields.

- Simple Vishwakarma

With New Delhi and Moscow signalling a renewed push for cooperation in education, culture and youth engagement, many now hope that the diplomatic warmth will lead to practical academic benefits.

Nearly 30,000 Indian students are currently enrolled in Russian universities, according to the Indian Embassy in Moscow. Most are pursuing programmes in medicine, engineering, economics and the sciences—areas that have drawn Indian interest for decades. Medical students form the largest group, even though many return home after graduation due to restricted paid opportunities within Russia's publicly funded healthcare system.

Educational collaboration between India and Russia is not new. It spans multiple frameworks such as the Educational Exchange Pro-gramme, the India—Russia Network of Higher Education Institutions, SPARC and GIAN. Indology and Indian languages—including Hindi, Sanskrit and Pali—are taught across various Russian universities. At the school level, India’s Atal Innovation Mission and Russia’s SIRIUS Centre continue to run joint pro-grammes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin.