India announces free e-visa for Russian citizens, set to begin soon

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announcef thst India will offer Russian tourists a free e-visa facility soon.

The tourist e-visas for both individuals and groups will not charge a processing fee either.

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In the press conference, the Indian PM said, "I am happy that we will soon launch e-tourist visa and group tourist visa services for Russian citizens. This will be processed within 30 days and will be free of cost."

Both parties on Friday agreed to expand and diversify trade beyond oil and defence despite Western pressure on New Delhi to scale back its decades-old close ties with Moscow.

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India, the world's top buyer of Russian arms and seaborne oil, has rolled out the red carpet for Putin during his two-day state visit, his first to New Delhi since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The trip coincides with New Delhi's talks with the US on a trade deal to cut punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on its goods over India's purchases of Russian oil.

Russia has said it wants to import more Indian goods in an effort to grow trade to $100 billion by 2030. It has so far been skewed in Moscow's favour due to New Delhi's energy imports.

[With inputs from Reuters]

Meher Dhanjal

meher@khaleejtimes.com

Meher Dhanjal is a Digital Journalist who breaks news first and breathes second. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings.