The North News
New Delhi, December 4
Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a tightly choreographed visit marked by some of the most elaborate security measures India has deployed for a foreign leader. Putin will land at Palam Air Force Station around 6:35pm before attending a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The location of his stay has not been disclosed due to security concerns.
On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu will welcome him with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will then visit Rajghat to lay a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial and proceed to Hyderabad House for summit talks with Mr Modi, the 23rd in the bilateral series. The two leaders are expected to discuss defence, energy cooperation and wider geopolitical issues. Press statements are scheduled for 1:50pm.
Putin will later attend a business engagement, the venue for which remains undisclosed, before returning to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Murmu. He is scheduled to depart for Moscow at 9pm.
Delhi has been turned into a high-security fortress for the visit. A five-tier protection grid involving Russian security officers, India’s National Security Guard commandos, snipers, high-tech drones, JMER systems and AI-enabled surveillance is in place across the capital. More than 40 Russian specialists are working with Delhi Police to map and secure all movement routes.
The officials said that the mission-level alert reflects the strategic weight of the visit, which is expected to shape the next phase of India–Russia relations.
