Russia boosts Make in India with nuclear, defence deals
Amid the deepening Moscow chill, India and Russia reignited their time-tested partnership, and the warmth between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin was all too visible, with Moscow giving a big push to Make in India project of national renewal.
Dispelling any notion of a drift in this special relationship, India and Russia signed 16 pacts across the spectrum, with Moscow emerging as New Delhi’s prime partner in indigenising civil nuclear and defence sectors. The two landmark agreements on Russia assisting in building 12 nuclear reactors in India and joint manufacture of 200 Kamov 226 helicopters under the Make in India programme have laid down a solid basis for transforming special and privileged partnership in years to come. The significance of these pacts is clear from the fact that Russia will be the first country to be involved in major Make in India projects in nuclear and defence sectors.