**Title:** Indian Defence Ministry Refutes Claims of Private Industry Meeting with Russia
**Meta Description:** The Indian Defence Ministry denies media reports of private industry representatives meeting Russian officials, clarifying the delegation’s composition.
**URL Slug:** indian-defence-ministry-russia-meeting-denial
**Headline:** Indian Defence Ministry Denies Media Claims of Private Industry Involvement in Russia Meeting
The Indian Ministry of Defence has firmly rejected media reports suggesting that representatives from private industry participated in discussions with Russian officials during a recent government delegation. The ministry clarified that the delegation was exclusively composed of officials from the Ministry of Defence and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
The 23rd meeting of the Inter-Governmental Working Group on Military Technical Cooperation and Defence Industry (IRWG-MTC&DI) took place in Moscow, Russia, from October 25 to 29, 2025. This meeting was co-chaired by Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Mr. Andrey A Boytsov, the First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation in Russia.
According to the ministry’s statement, the Indian delegation included officials from various departments within the Ministry of Defence, such as the Department of Defence Production, the Department of Defence, and representatives from the Tri-Services, along with members from several DPSUs, including Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India Optel Limited, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, Munitions India Limited, and Bharat Electronics Limited. The ministry emphasized that no private industry representatives were part of the delegation.
In response to claims that the ministry declined to comment on the reports, the statement clarified that the request for comments was made shortly before publication, making it challenging for the ministry to provide immediate responses on sensitive and strategic matters. The ministry urged media outlets to adhere to rigorous fact-checking protocols to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate information.
The IRWG-MTC&DI operates under the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC), which facilitates traditional military cooperation across all three branches of the armed forces. The working group convenes annually, alternating its meetings between India and Russia, with the previous meeting held in India in November 2024.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What was the purpose of the IRWG-MTC&DI meeting in Moscow?**
A: The meeting aimed to enhance military technical cooperation and strengthen defense industry collaboration between India and Russia.
