In an unprecedented move reflecting the intersection of education and diplomacy, Russian universities are ramping up efforts to teach Hindi, signaling a broader alignment with India’s rising global influence. The initiative underscores Moscow’s recognition that language is more than a tool of communication—it is a conduit for strategic and cultural engagement.

Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education, called on universities to expand Hindi programs, citing growing student interest across the country. “We have to have more students learn Hindi,” he told TASS, emphasizing that a language spoken daily by more Indians than English cannot be ignored.

Institutions in and around Moscow—including MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations), the Russian State University for the Humanities, the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, and Moscow State Linguistic University—have multiplied Hindi groups two to three times in recent years. The trend has spread beyond the capital, with St. Petersburg State University and Kazan Federal University also offering courses to meet rising demand. Government officials report a steady increase in annual applications for Hindi programs.

The push comes at a time of shifting global alliances. Following the U.S. imposition of trade restrictions on India in August, Moscow and New Delhi have drawn closer. Since 2022, India has emerged as a major buyer of Russian crude, navigating international sanctions with strategic partnerships.

Long-term collaboration underpins the initiative. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently described Russia as “one of India’s most dependable partners,” noting that bilateral ties have remained among the steadiest of major global relationships since World War II. The Kremlin confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit India in December, further cementing political and cultural ties.

For Moscow, Hindi has evolved from a peripheral academic offering into a key instrument of cultural diplomacy—an educational bridge reinforcing the enduring strategic partnership with India.