India And Romania To Strengthen Defence Partnership With Focus On Drones And Aerospace

India and Romania have agreed to significantly deepen their defence cooperation, with a strong emphasis on drones, aerospace, defence manufacturing, and industrial collaboration.

The partnership was reinforced during President Droupadi Murmu’s State Visit to Romania from 23 to 25 July 2026, where both sides also committed to doubling trade within three years and expanding cooperation in science, technology, and digital infrastructure.

India and Romania are set to expand their defence partnership, with the Ministry of External Affairs confirming that drone technology and aerospace will be central areas of collaboration. Secretary (West) Sibi George highlighted that defence cooperation has become a key pillar of bilateral relations, noting the progress made during the Joint Committee of Defence Cooperation meeting held in May.

George explained that there is considerable scope for strengthening collaboration in defence manufacturing, industrial cooperation, maritime security, and cybersecurity. Several Indian companies are already exploring opportunities for co-development and co-production in civil and defence aeronautics, as well as next-generation drone technologies.

He emphasised India’s focus on indigenous defence production through its two defence corridors in the north and south. These corridors have seen rapid progress, and Romania has emerged as one of the European partners with which India is keen to expand collaboration, particularly in aerospace and drone technology.

George assured that cooperation is advancing and hinted at further developments in the near future. While refraining from naming specific companies, he stated that deeper engagement between India and Romania in the defence sector would be visible in the coming months. The Joint Committee has already identified areas of cooperation, making this a work in progress with significant progress expected.

The two countries also discussed cooperation in combating global terrorism. Romania has supported India’s fight against terrorism and strongly condemned the Pulwama terror attack. In addition, Romania previously assisted India during ‘Operation Ganga’ in 2022, helping evacuate Indian students from Ukraine.

Beyond defence, President Murmu and Romanian President Nicușor Dan agreed to double bilateral trade within three years. Both sides committed to strengthening resilient supply chains, promoting investment, and encouraging closer collaboration between business communities.

Agreements were signed in science and technology, sports, and culture, including the establishment of an Indian Studies Chair at the University of Bucharest.

President Murmu also invited Romania to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface to facilitate trade and tourism. She announced the doubling of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation training slots for Romania, including specialised programs in Artificial Intelligence.

Romanian diplomats will participate in a forthcoming professional course at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service focusing on Artificial Intelligence and cyber diplomacy.

This visit marks a historic moment, being the first by an Indian President to Romania in three decades. It has laid the foundation for a stronger India-Romania partnership, combining defence, technology, trade, counter-terrorism, and cultural exchange.

The emphasis on drones and aerospace reflects India’s broader strategy of indigenous defence modernisation, while Romania’s readiness to collaborate signals a new phase of bilateral engagement.

ANI

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Game Changer For Trade As India And Romania Strengthen EU Partnership During President Murmu’s Visit

President Droupadi Murmu’s official visit to Romania from 23 to 25 July has given a major boost to bilateral commercial relations. Both countries identified priority sectors for expansion and emphasised the transformative potential of the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

At a special media briefing, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, outlined the high-level engagements undertaken during the visit. These included a bilateral meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and a joint address with Romanian President Nicusor Dan at the India-Romania Business Forum.

The Business Forum gathered around 200 business representatives, including a significant Indian delegation led by FICCI, CII, and ASSOCHAM. The delegation represented critical growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defence, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

George explained that the deliberations at the Forum centred on enhancing collaborations in the “3 Ts”: Trade, Technology, Tourism, and Talent. He stressed that Romania’s strategic position within the European Union provides considerable advantages for Indian enterprises seeking to access both domestic and wider European markets.

He noted that Romania already hosts approximately 1,000 Indian companies, creating long-term opportunities for deeper collaboration. This presence is expected to expand further with the new frameworks in place.

President Murmu’s discussions with Prime Minister Bolojan focused heavily on bilateral engagement and the broader India-EU relationship in light of the landmark FTA agreed earlier this year.

George highlighted that the conclusion of the India-EU FTA and adoption of the “India-EU Towards 2030” joint comprehensive strategic agenda will be a game changer.

The agenda identifies important areas of cooperation including sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity. These will significantly expand and enhance trade and investment ties with the EU, including Romania.

Responding to questions about the roadmap for doubling bilateral trade over the next three years, the MEA confirmed that the necessary policy frameworks are firmly established. With the FTA in place, there is every possibility of more opportunities for businesses to engage.

Achieving this ambitious growth will depend largely on sustained private-sector engagement, expanded trade missions, and stronger ties between Romanian businesses and industrial hubs across Indian states.

George emphasised that businesses in both countries must engage more closely. He called for increased business delegations travelling from Romania to India and from India to Romania, with greater interaction between the two sides.

This visit has therefore reinforced Romania’s role as a key partner for India within the European Union, while also laying the groundwork for a stronger India-EU economic partnership.

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President Murmu Awarded Honorary Doctorate In Romania As Symbol of Enduring Friendship

President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Bucharest University of Economic Studies during her visit to Romania. The ceremony took place on Friday and marked a significant moment in her three‑nation tour of Eastern Europe.

In her address, President Murmu expressed deep gratitude to the Rector, Senate, and the wider university community. She dedicated the honour to the people of India, stating that she accepted it with humility on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians. She described the recognition as a reflection of the enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Romania.

Reflecting on her personal journey, she emphasised that education had been the most transformative force in her life. As a former educator, she recalled how a single classroom could alter the trajectory of an entire community. She stressed that education was not merely a tool for individual advancement but the surest foundation of a just and inclusive society.

President Murmu highlighted that the India‑Romania partnership is built on mutual respect, trust, and shared democratic values. She underlined that academic collaboration remains one of its strongest pillars.

Romanian institutions have long welcomed Indian students in medicine, engineering, and technology, and she urged universities in both nations to deepen ties through joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and student exchange programs.

Addressing the global technological shift, she noted that universities must maintain a strong moral compass. With artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and rapid scientific advances reshaping the world, she said institutions have an even greater responsibility to ensure that knowledge is guided by wisdom, ethics, and compassion.

Speaking directly to the student body, she described them as the architects of tomorrow’s world. She encouraged them to remain curious in their pursuit of knowledge, confident in their abilities, and compassionate in their actions. She urged them to use their talents to build bridges across cultures and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan highlighted the honour in a statement, noting that President Murmu accepted the distinction as a symbol of enduring friendship between India and Romania. The statement also reiterated her call for deeper cooperation through joint research and academic exchanges.

Founded in 1913, the Bucharest University of Economic Studies is Romania’s premier institution for higher learning in economics, business, and public administration. It was the country’s first university dedicated exclusively to economic sciences and has shaped generations of leaders and policymakers. 

The Doctor Honoris Causa is its highest distinction, awarded to eminent global personalities for extraordinary contributions to academia, public service, and international relations.

Romania was the final stop of President Murmu’s three‑nation visit to Eastern Europe, which took place from 23 to 25 July at the invitation of Romanian President Nicusor Dan. The conferment of the Honorary Doctorate added a symbolic and historic dimension to her visit, reinforcing the academic and cultural ties between the two nations.

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India And Romania Set Ambitious Trade And Cooperation Goals During President Murmu’s Historic Visit

India and Romania have reaffirmed their longstanding friendship and set ambitious new goals for the future of their partnership. During President Droupadi Murmu’s historic visit to Romania, the first by an Indian President in three decades, both nations agreed to double bilateral trade within the next three years.

This decision underscores economic cooperation as a central pillar of their relationship, with a strong emphasis on expanding collaboration in pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.

President Murmu highlighted the enduring nature of India-Romania ties, which have been built on mutual trust, respect, and people-to-people connections for over seventy years. She noted that the partnership is now entering a new phase, marked by ambitious targets and a shared vision for the future. 

In her remarks, she stressed the importance of promoting trade and investment, strengthening supply chains, and encouraging closer cooperation between industries in both countries.

The two nations signed three Memoranda of Understanding covering science and technology, sports, and the establishment of a Chair of Indian Studies at the University of Bucharest.

These agreements are expected to deepen cultural and academic exchanges while also advancing technological collaboration. President Murmu emphasised that cooperation will extend to areas such as health, green hydrogen, fertilizers, digital public infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, leveraging the complementary strengths of both economies.

Defence cooperation was also identified as a key pillar of the partnership. The leaders agreed to enhance collaboration through regular exchanges, training, capacity building, and closer ties between defence industries.

President Murmu announced that India will double the training opportunities offered to Romania under the ITEC program, including specialised courses in artificial intelligence and cyber diplomacy. Romanian diplomats will also participate in upcoming professional courses at India’s foreign service institute.

The visit further strengthened cooperation in global initiatives. President Murmu welcomed Romania’s participation in the International Solar Alliance and its intention to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

She also announced that India and Romania will celebrate eighty years of diplomatic relations in 2028 as the India-Romania Year of Innovation, marking a milestone in their shared journey.

Both leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments, reiterating their commitment to peace, dialogue, and international law as essential tools to address global challenges. President Murmu expressed gratitude for Romania’s hospitality and extended an invitation to President Nicusor Dan to visit India. She stated her hope to welcome him in New Delhi soon.

President Dan described the visit as historic and emphasised the depth of the India-Romania partnership. He noted the significant Indian investments already present in Romania and expressed optimism about further expanding economic ties.

Discussions also included the possibility of establishing direct flights between India and Romania to facilitate greater connectivity. In his concluding remarks, President Dan said that President Murmu’s visit marked a new beginning in bilateral relations and expressed confidence in the continued strengthening of cooperation.

President Murmu was accorded a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, reflecting the importance Romania placed on the visit. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and explored ways to deepen collaboration across multiple sectors.

This visit, combining economic, cultural, defence, and technological dimensions, represents a significant step forward in India-Romania relations. It sets the stage for a future defined by innovation, mutual growth, and strengthened global partnerships.

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French Rafales Lead NATO Interception of Russian Bombers Over Baltic Sea

NATO fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Monday, 20 April, in a coordinated air-policing mission. The operation involved multiple allied jets deployed to monitor and track the Russian formation.

According to the Associated Press, French Dassault Rafale fighters were scrambled from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania as part of NATO’s long-running Baltic Air Policing mission.

The French detachment confirmed that Rafales armed with air-to-air missiles joined aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania. Together, they took to the skies to inspect and keep watch on the Russian flight.

The Russian mission included two supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers, accompanied by around ten fighters, including Sukhoi Su-30s and Su-35s. These fighters took turns escorting the larger strategic bombers during the flight.

The Russian Defence Ministry stated that the long-range bombers’ flight was scheduled and took place over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea. The mission lasted more than four hours, according to the ministry’s Telegram channel.

“At certain stages of the route, the long-range bombers were accompanied by fighters of foreign states,” the ministry said, as quoted by AP. It added that crews of long-range aviation regularly conduct flights over neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, as well as the Baltic and Black Seas. The statement emphasised that all flights of Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft are carried out in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace.

The Baltic Air Policing mission has been in place since 2004, when Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined NATO. It has intensified significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reflecting heightened tensions in the region.

This latest interception also comes amid renewed strains between Washington and its NATO allies under President Donald Trump. He has repeatedly criticised the alliance over burden-sharing and questioned its value.

Trump has pressed European members to sharply increase defence spending and has at times suggested that the United States could reconsider its commitment to NATO. These remarks have unsettled allies already grappling with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

At the same time, NATO members including Britain and France refused to take part in the US plan to blockade Iranian ports, after declining to support Washington’s military initiatives in the Middle East.

Earlier in March this year, NATO fighter jets also intercepted and escorted two Russian Air Force Su-24D aircraft flying in international airspace near NATO borders. NATO Air Command confirmed the interception on 12 March, underscoring the frequency of such encounters.

AP

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India And Romania Forge Strategic Economic And Mobility Partnership

India and Romania are taking decisive steps to expand their economic collaboration, focusing on trade, investment, and the movement of skilled professionals. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada met with Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu in Bucharest for a wide-ranging discussion aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties.

The high-level talks, convened under the India-EU economic framework, stressed enhancing resilient supply chains amid evolving international challenges. Emphasis was placed on concluding a comprehensive India-EU Free Trade Agreement within the year, reflecting political directives and the shared commitment to balanced outcomes.

India’s exports to Romania have surpassed $1 billion for FY 2024-25, marking significant growth. Bilateral trade totals reached approximately $2.98 billion in FY 2023-24. Both sides reviewed this robust trade relationship and agreed to prioritise sectoral cooperation.

Priority was accorded to fortifying supply-chain integration in segments such as petroleum products, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and ceramics. Discussion also encompassed reinforcing cooperation in technical standards, testing, and investment partnerships to widen opportunities and smoothen market access.

The meeting underscored the shared goal of establishing trusted, resilient supply chains, bolstering long-term business confidence for enterprises operating in both countries. Ministers acknowledged the recent surge in high-level exchanges and committed to regular dialogue on trade facilitation, investor outreach, and mobility schemes.

A key outcome was the decision to devise a specialised mobility toolkit, aimed at translating new economic opportunities into tangible benefits. Streamlining procedural hurdles remains a priority to maximise labour and investment flows.

As part of his official itinerary, Minister Prasada attended the 19th Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation. His Romanian counterparts, including Secretary of State Gabriel Bogdan Stetco and Managing Director Sorin Mihai Toader, received him upon arrival at Bucharest’s Henri Coanda International Airport.

During his visit, Prasada engaged extensively with Petre-Florin Manole, Minister of Labour, Family, Youth, and Social Solidarity, focusing on the demand-driven mobility of skilled professionals. With India’s youthful and vast workforce—boasting a median age of 29—the country is positioned to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030.

Romania’s annual market demand for around 1,00,000 non-EU workers creates fertile ground for skilled Indian professionals. Both nations acknowledged readiness to facilitate the movement of approximately 30,000 Indian experts per year to address Romania’s labour market requirements.

India’s rapid ascent as a global manufacturing and technology hub remains pivotal in this partnership. Currently, India accounts for nearly 45 percent of the world’s capability centres and is investing heavily in advanced technology sectors. Ministers noted the importance of India-EU cooperation against the backdrop of shifting geopolitical and economic realities.

They reaffirmed their ambition to construct a robust, safe, and orderly mobility partnership supporting the managed migration of skilled professionals. Enhanced collaboration in education, research, innovation, and culture forms a foundational pillar for deeper people-to-people ties and long-term talent circulation.

Technical dialogues during the visit covered joint efforts in recruitment, language and vocational training, standardised employment contracts, and employer accountability. Agreement was reached on expediting placement procedures for verified employers. Both countries charged officials to pursue mutual recognition of qualifications and explore the feasibility of a Totalisation Agreement for social security portability.

Both sides resolved to maintain the current momentum, activating key enablers, and broadening the partnership in skills mobility, business engagement, and institutional cooperation.

These steps will ensure the India-Romania partnership grows more resilient and results-oriented across trade, technology, and human capital domains.

Based On ANI Report

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'Ties With Romania Close, Warm And Substantive': EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday highlighted that the relationship between India and Romania is not only close and warm but also deeply substantive.

The remarks by EAM came while he was speaking at the release of India-Romania commemorative postal stamps. Notably, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and EAM Dr S Jaishankar released a postage stamp on the completion of 75 years of "India - Romania" relations, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

While addressing the event, Jaishankar stated that establishing a modern and dynamic connection between India and Europe has become an increasingly important objective.

He said, "It is true that when we look at trade routes between India and Europe, Romania had a particularly important position... For us, how to build a contemporary connect between India and Europe has become increasingly important endeavour. Last year, we took a big step toward contemplating an India-Middle-East-Europe connectivity corridor. We expect that this corridor will take a concrete form. I am confident that what we regard this connection between Indian and Europe will take a modern form and develop as a crucial connectivity corridor."

He added, "Our own ties with Romania are close, they are warm, they are substantive... There is an Indian community with about 9,000 Indians, maybe more, living in Romania..."

The External Affairs Minister further emphasised that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the government has been dedicated to strengthening and enhancing relations with Europe.

"I would like to convey to all of you, if you look at the last decade of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, perhaps no government in our history has paid as much attention to developing ties with Europe as we have seen in the last decade. Not just ties with big nation states, not just ties with Brussels but ties with the sub-regions, individual countries...," Jaishankar said.

Notably, India and Romania established diplomatic relations in 1948, and raised it to

Ambassadorial level in 1968. India and Romania regularly support each other on several multilateral issues and work in tandem at the UN and other international organisations. Foreign Office Consultations have been instituted to review bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

EAM Jaishankar and former Foreign Minister of Romania, Bogdan Aurescu met on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference on 19 February 2022. FM Aurescu's visit to India in April 2021 to attend the Raisina Dialogue was cancelled due to the pandemic, but he had attended the Dialogue online.

At the invitation of former FM Aurescu, EAM addressed the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy on September 8, 2021. They also interacted briefly at the Foreign Ministers' lunch in Bled, Slovenia on September 3, 2021, and met on the sidelines of EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm on May 13, 2023.

This report is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

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India, Romania Discuss Bilateral Ties, Quad, Ukraine Conflict And More

New Delhi: India and Romania on November 14 held their fourth Foreign Office consultations in New Delhi. During the meeting, the officials of the two nations discussed bilateral ties, including political, economic, commercial, consular, and cultural linkages.

In the Foreign office consultations, India and Romania discussed regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, Quad, India's neighbourhood and European Union. The officials of the two nations discussed cooperation in multilateral fora, including the United Nations, UNSC reform, India's G20 presidency and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

"The consultations covered the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, economic, commercial, consular, and cultural linkages. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, QUAD, India's neighbourhood, EU, Ukraine conflict, cooperation in multilateral fora including the UN, UNSC reform and India's G20 Presidency," read the statement released by Ministry of External Affairs.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office consultations at mutually convenient dates in Bucharest. For the Foreign Office Consultations, the Indian side was led by Arun Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (Central Europe), Ministry of External Affairs. Meanwhile, the Romanian side was led by Olivia Toderean, General Director for Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

In the statement, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that India and Romania share "deep historical and cultural linkages." The consultations between Romania and India gave an opportunity to both nations to review bilateral engagements and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest as the two countries will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2023.

Notably, Romania facilitated the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine after Russia began its offensive on February 24. It is pertinent to mention here that India had launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine after Russia's invasion.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia travelled to Romania in March to oversee the evacuation efforts of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs had set up 24x7 control centres to assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals through the border crossing points with Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

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Vande Bharat Train's Components Stuck In War-Torn Ukraine, India Looking At Options

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Railway Ministry are in talks with the Ukraine-based wheel manufacturer and the Embassy of Romania to expedite the delivery process of Vande Bharat Train wheels for a trial run.

Addressing a weekly briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed that some components (wheels) are stuck in war-torn Ukraine and talks are underway to expedite the delivery.

"Some components of 'Vande Bharat' (train) are made in Ukraine but due to the ongoing conflict, the delivery schedule has been impacted. We are looking for options for timely delivery. Railway ministry will give exact details of components' delivery," Bagchi said.

According to sources, a consignment of 128 wheels for the Vande Bharat train has reached Romania by road from war-torn Ukraine, which will now be brought to India soon.

When asked to airlift those wheels in the coming day, the MEA spokesperson said: "We are working on how will take this component delivered."

As per the sources, thousands of wheels were ordered for the Vande Bharat train to a Ukrainian firm whose work has been affected by the war.

To meet its target of launching 75 Vande Bharat "semi-high speed trains" on major routes across the country by the end of this year.

Furthermore, sources said that the earlier plan to ship the wheels from the Ukrainian port to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Maharashtra got stuck due to the war.

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PM Modi's Intervention With Presidents of Russia, Ukraine Led To Ceasefire For Evacuation of Indian Students From Sumy: Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that evacuation of Indian students from Sumy in Ukraine was extremely complex and needed a credible ceasefire which finally materialised due to the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia.

Making a statement on 'Situation in Ukraine' in both Houses of Parliament, Jaishankar said the Prime Minister took up the "issue of safe evacuation of Indians, especially from Kharkiv and Sumy".

The Prime Minister had spoken to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 7. He had spoken to the two leaders earlier also in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine and for the safe evacuation of Indian students.

"The Sumy evacuation, which was the last one on a significant scale, was also extremely complex as our students faced the prospect of being caught in the crossfire. Their evacuation from the city needed a credible ceasefire, a daunting challenge in the current situation," Jaishankar said.

"This finally materialized due to the personal intervention of the Prime Minister himself with the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia. Noting the extraordinary challenges before us, we also dispatched a special team of senior officers to the vicinity of Sumy. Their coordination with the military forces deployed there, with the ICRC and the arrangement of logistics was responsible for the final outcome," he added.

The minister said during the entire period, India's Embassy in Ukraine has been working incessantly to contact Indian nationals, arranging and facilitating transport, coordinating with local authorities, providing food.

"Throughout the evacuation exercise, our Embassy was in constant touch with the Ukrainian authorities. We appreciate their positive response to our requests during this period. Their intervention was responsible for running additional trains needed for the evacuation exercise. The Embassy also provided travel documents within a very very short time in cases where Indian nationals had lost their passports," Jaishankar said.

"They also partnered with neighbouring Embassies to resolve challenging situations on the border. On March 13, in view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, including attacks in its western part, it was decided to temporarily relocate the Indian Embassy in Ukraine to Poland. This situation will be reassessed in light of further developments," he added.

Jaishankar said the Prime Minister also spoke to his counterparts of Romania, Slovak Republic, Hungary and the President of Poland to seek support for the facilitation in the entry of Indians to their countries.

India has evacuated around 22,500 stranded citizens from Ukraine. India has also evacuated citizens from the neighbouring countries including Bangladesh and Nepal.

Buses and trains brought Indians to the western borders of Ukraine and they were flown to India through flights that took off from Bucharest, Budapest, Suceava, and Warsaw.

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India Successfully Evacuated Over 15,920 Students From Ukraine Via 76 Flights

Bucharest: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said the government has successfully evacuated over 15,920 students via 76 flights from conflict-ridden Ukraine.

"Operation Ganga Update: We have successfully evacuated over 15920 students via 76 flights. Breakup - Romania - 6680 (31 flights), Poland - 2822 (13 flights), Hungary - 5300 (26 flights), Slovakia - 1118 (6 flights)," Scindia said in a tweet.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Embassy had said that the last leg of 'Operation Ganga' has begun, asking the stranded students to reach the Hungarian City Centre in Budapest.

Separately Indian Embassy in Kyiv also urged its nationals who are still in Ukraine to register themselves for the evacuation process under 'Operation Ganga'.

Meanwhile, the MEA yesterday informed that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city of Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from Sumy as it is challenging amid ongoing violence and lack of transportation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent four special envoys to Ukraine's neighbouring countries from where Indians are being evacuated.

Four cabinet ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiran Rijiju, General VK Singh (Retd), and Hardeep Singh Puri have been on the job for the last many days. A former diplomat Hardeep Puri has been stationed in Hungary to coordinate their efforts to evacuate Indian students here.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk -as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow.

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Amid Shelling In Ukraine, Indian Student Helps Pakistani Girl Flee Kyiv, Reach Romanian Border

Representation        

New Delhi: An Indian student stranded in Ukraine amid Russian military operations, turned good Samaritan when he helped a Pakistani girl studying in Kyiv reach the Romanian border from where she was evacuated to her homeland.

Ankit Yadav, who recently returned from the conflict-hit Ukraine recounted to ANI that he helped her reach the Pakistani embassy from where she was evacuated to her homeland.

"I met her at a bunker on the evening of February 24. I was the only Indian and she was the only Pakistani in that bunker which was filled with Ukrainians. Due to the language barrier, we could not speak to anybody else. With rising tensions in Ukraine, we decided to make a plan to flee the city. We had planned to leave on February 26, but a curfew was imposed and we failed in our first attempt," Yadav said.

Narrating his ordeal after landing at the Delhi international airport, Yadav who is studying at a Kyiv institute said that due to continuous shelling and Russia's military operations they were not allowed to leave the bunker. He said that getting food was an issue as Ukrainians were mostly consuming non-vegetarian food and supplies were depleting.

"When I requested, they allowed to let me leave the bunker on February 27 to getting a nasal spray. That is when I fled to my hostel with a curfew in place, cooked food for both of us and returned," Yadav said.

"With not enough food, on the night of February 27 we only consumed rice provided to us by the Ukrainians and slept," he added.

On February 28 when curfew lifted, Yadav said they managed to flee the bunker and find a store to replenish their supplies and then began planning to leave the city.

"About that time she received a call from the Pakistani Embassy. When she told them that she was still in Kyiv and did not have any other person from her country with her, the officials of the embassy requested that I accompany her to the border for safety concerns," he said.

After trudging for about 5 km to the railway station, Yadav said that they met some more students but could not board the overcrowded train because of which they missed first three trains.

"Luckily, we got the next train but there no empty seats left and we had to sit on the floor. Sometime later we heard a blast in our train and eventually, the train began to move slowly and took us to our destination," Yadav said.

The Pakistani girl, he said, then contacted her embassy, which arranged a taxi and arranged a bus with other Pakistani nationals to evacuate them to the Romania border.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Gen VK Singh in Poland.

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Romanian MiG-21 Crashes. SAR Helicopter Dispatched To Rescue Its Pilot Crashes Too Killing 7

A Puma helicopter that was launched to search and rescue a missing MiG-21 pilot crashed killing 7 crew members. MiG pilot still missing

Mar. 2, 2022, was a tragic day for the Romanian Air Force. First, a MiG-21 LanceR, that had taken off from the 57th Air Force Base Mihail Kogălniceanu at around 19.50LT disappeared from radars at 20.03LT in an area between Gura Dobrogei and Cogealac, west of Costanta, in the eastern part of Romania, not far from the Black Sea.

Search and rescue operations were immediately launched. An IAR-330 (the Romanian built version of Aerospatiale SA330) Puma helicopter took off from the same base and headed towards the area of the possible crash, looking for the missing pilot. The helicopter lost the radio contact with the base around 20.44LT and crashed in the area of Gura Dobrogei, Constanta county, about 11 km from the airport.

The Romanian Air Force later announced that 7 military aboard the helicopter had been killed in the incident, including two rescuers of the Romanian Naval Forces. Search and rescue operations of the pilot of MiG 21 LanceR aircraft are still underway.

The news of the two crashes immediately fuelled some crazy theories. Social networks went abuzz with people speculating on the root causes of the incidents and suggesting both aircraft were shot down by the Russian forces operating in the Black Sea region. Many have called the crashes a new “Gulf of Tonkin” incident. Needless to say, based on the details released by the Romanian authorities so far, these speculations appear to be completely unsubstantiated.

The airspace around Costanta is one of the most well-guarded in the region, considered also that several NATO aircraft supporting enhanced Air Policing mission are deployed to Mihail Kogălniceanu and in QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) on an H24 basis. Moreover, weather was reported to be pretty bad in the area of the two crashes, with snow/rain and low ceiling. The bad weather and the darkness may have contributed to one or both incidents. Without forgetting that despite the upgrades, the MiG-21 LanceR remains a quite old aircraft.

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Won't Leave Till Last Indian Is Evacuated From Ukraine: Kiren Rijiju In Slovakia

Kosice [Slovakia]: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is in Slovakia to oversee the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine, on Wednesday (local time) said that he will not leave the place till the last fellow citizen is safely evacuated from the crisis-torn country.

Rijiju is one of the four 'special envoys' deployed by the Government of India to oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals in Ukraine's neighbouring countries under Operation Ganga. He reached the Slovakian city of Kosice on Wednesday.

Interacting with Indian students who reached Kosice after crossing the Ukraine border, the Union Minister said, "Our priority is to evacuate everyone safely. We have already given our assurance to everyone that we will evacuate every Indian safely. It is Prime Minister's direction that we will not leave anyone behind. Those who are in the war zone, there are some compulsions. Even our embassy staff cannot reach there since firing and bombardment is underway. So there are difficulties. The evacuation is not that easy. The circumstances are very challenging. But still, we are making efforts."

Rijiju urged students to convey the message to their parents that the Government of India is putting all efforts to help them reach home safely.

"I will not leave this place till the last Indian is evacuated from Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji has given a clear direction to secure our citizens and bring them home as soon as possible. India is the only country to carry out the rescue operation at this level," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Rijiju said, "Good to see huge relief in the faces of our students who have reached Slovakia from Ukraine. All of them are given proper care and kept near Kosice in Slovakia. 189 of them are leaving tonight for India. Good to see the smiles on the face of our students after a long ordeal. Have a safe journey home. Good to see the smiles in the face of our students after a long ordeal."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said nine flights took off on Thursday from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland.

"Nine flights have taken off today from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland. Includes IAF aircraft. 6 flights more are expected to depart shortly. Altogether, will bring back more than 3000 Indian nationals," tweeted Jaishankar.

A total of 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since the advisories were issued and flights under Operation Ganga have been increased to facilitate the evacuation of remaining students stranded in Ukraine.

The students who left Ukraine also included some Indians who had not registered with the Embassy of India in Kyiv previously.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on the issue. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other officials. The Prime Minister has been chairing crucial meetings on the issue in the last few days.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised Ukraine to help with military aid to fight Russia.

The US, Canada and European allies agreed to remove key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system, SWIFT which means Russian banks won't be able to communicate securely with banks beyond Russia's borders. President Putin has also signed a decree on special economic measures against the US and its allies.

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Jyotiraditya Scindia Meets Romanian PM, Thanks Him For Facilitating Safe Evacuation of Indian Nationals From Ukraine

Bucharest: Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia met Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca in Romania on Wednesday and thanked the latter for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian citizens amid heightened tensions in Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, Scindia said, "Met the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Romania, Mr Nicolae Ciuca to thank the government for facilitating entry and ensuring the safety of our citizens amid the grim situation at the Ukrainian borders."

Furthermore, the Union Minister said that the Ciuca has assured his continued support in the evacuation process. Both sides shared mutual interests in expanding bilateral trade.

"I am happy to report that His Excellency has assured his continued support to our students crossing the Romanian borders, and reiterated the friendly relations between our countries since the last 74 years. We also shared mutual interest in expanding bilateral trade given the huge economic potential & presence of Indian businesses in Romania," he tweeted.

With Operation Ganga being carried out on a war-footing basis, Scindia on Wednesday interacted with Indian students at Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest in Romania.

The Union Minister met everyone with warmth and praised them for their bravery and resilience. He assured each one of them that they will be flying home today.

While speaking to the Indians at the airport today, the minister said that those still stuck at Romanian borders or coming to the borders will no longer be made to travel to Romania's capital to catch the flight.

He said he will arrange for those students to be sent home directly from there. Students seemed happy to see him and greeted him and shared any problems they had with him.

On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing efforts under Operation Ganga to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indian nationals there are safe and secure.

The government also informed that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on Ukraine's borders has been despatched.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Earlier in February, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

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