Image Credit: Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images 
Russia’s state-funded RT network officially rolled out its India-focused service on December 5, complete with localized content and correspondents on the ground in New Delhi in Moscow’s latest campaign to counter Western media dominance in the Global South.
Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over the launch ceremony in the Indian capital during his two-day state visit, hailing the expansion as a “very significant event” that will deliver “more accurate information about our reality today” to millions of Indian viewers.
Speaking at the event alongside RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, Putin emphasized the channel’s role in bridging the two nations, stating, “I very much hope that Russia Today will not just help show Russia as it is today, but also give our societies an opportunity to grasp the main issues and areas of our cooperation.”
The rollout comes amid deepening bilateral ties, with trade between the two countries exploding past $65 billion annually—fueled largely by India’s voracious appetite for discounted Russian crude oil despite U.S. sanctions and tariffs.
The new RT India platform, broadcasting in Hindi and English via TV, website, and digital apps, targets a staggering audience in the world’s most populous nation: over 1.4 billion people, including a booming urban middle class of more than 400 million internet users hungry for international news.
RT India CEO Ashok Bagaria told reporters the channel will zero in on “geopolitical news and analysis from India and South Asia,” steering clear of domestic Indian politics to avoid regulatory headaches in a market dominated by homegrown giants like NDTV and Republic TV. But the subtext is clear: This is Moscow’s bid to plant its flag in the heart of the Global South, offering an “alternative narrative” to what Bagaria slammed as the “one-sided” coverage from Western outlets like CNN and the BBC.
Putin’s whirlwind trip to New Delhi—his first since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022—set the stage for the launch with high-level pomp. He touched down Thursday evening to a warm airport greeting from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, complete with traditional dances and a bear hug between the leaders.
Friday’s agenda packed in a ceremonial guard of honor at Rashtrapati Bhavan, closed-door talks at Hyderabad House, and a joint address to business leaders at Bharat Mandapam. Modi and Putin inked fresh pacts on everything from trade and migration to maritime cooperation and health standards, while Modi announced two new 30-day visa schemes for Russian tourists and the opening of Indian consulates in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk.
On energy, Putin pledged “uninterrupted fuel shipments” to India, nodding to a flagship Russian-built nuclear plant under construction in the south Asian giant and vowing to shield deliveries from U.S. pressure.
The Ukraine shadow loomed large, of course. Modi reiterated India’s “side of peace” stance on the grinding conflict, calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” without picking sides—a tightrope walk that’s irked Washington as New Delhi snaps up 40% of Russia’s seaborne oil exports.
Putin, in a pre-visit interview with India Today, floated a “peaceful solution” hinging on Ukrainian withdrawals from Donbas, while blasting U.S. tariffs on Indian goods—slapped on as punishment for those very oil buys—as “unfair and unjustified.” Bilateral trade dipped to $28.25 billion in the first five months of 2025 amid those penalties, but both sides eyed a $100 billion target by 2030, with Russia pushing for more Indian exports like pharmaceuticals and machinery to balance the ledger.
RT’s blitz into India didn’t happen in a vacuum. The network ramped up hype with a massive promo push: billboards blanketing Delhi and Mumbai, digital ads flooding social media, a branded train snaking through the capital, and even a glowing green projection of the RT logo on Mumbai’s iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge.
Simonyan, fresh off Putin’s side at the launch, took a swipe at the West during the ceremony, praising India as “friendly and hospitable” in contrast to countries that banned RT post-Ukraine invasion—like the U.S., where RT America got yanked off air in 2022. Putin piled on, accusing those bans of stemming from “fear of the truth” rather than any real malice, positioning RT as a beacon of “maximally clean” info in a sea of biased spin.
For RT, India’s a goldmine. The country’s media scene is a pressure cooker of nationalism and skepticism toward Western lectures, especially on issues like colonial hangovers and global south solidarity. With Hindi speakers topping 600 million and English penetration in elite circles, RT India could tap into BRICS fervor— that loose club of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa that’s morphed into a full-throated anti-hegemony bloc under Moscow’s nudge.
Analysts point out RT’s track record: In Latin America and Africa, its mix of anti-imperialist rants and slick production has carved out loyal niches, often amplifying local gripes against U.S. meddling.
But hurdles abound. India’s telecom regulator TRAI demands foreign channels play by strict localization rules, and RT’s rep as a Kremlin mouthpiece could spark backlash from pro-West voices in Modi’s coalition or urban liberals.
Still, the timing’s ripe: As U.S.-India defense ties deepen via the Quad alliance with Japan and Australia, New Delhi’s hedging with Russia on arms deals—S-400 missile systems, BrahMos joint ventures—shows no signs of cooling. Putin even dangled drone tech talks, hinting at Lancet attack UAVs for Indian deployment.
The launch caps a year of Moscow’s charm offensive in Asia’s powerhouse. Russia-India trade hit record highs in 2024 despite sanctions, and Putin’s visit—complete with a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan—signals both sides doubling down on “special and privileged” status. For RT, it’s not just airtime; it’s a megaphone in a market where Western media’s trust ratings have tanked amid Gaza coverage rows and Ukraine fatigue.
As one Delhi-based media watcher put it: “In a world of echo chambers, RT India’s betting on the biggest one yet.”
