India-Romania Relations Explained

India-Romania relations are the bilateral ties between the Republic of India and Romania, a partnership that dates to the communist era and now spans information technology, pharmaceuticals, oil-and-gas engineering, defence dialogue, education, labour mobility and cooperation within the framework of the European Union. Romania, a member of the EU since 2007 and of NATO since 2004, is among the larger markets and labour sources of Central and Eastern Europe, and India sees it as a growing partner in the region.

The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1948, and their political friendship was strengthened in the 1960s and 1970s by high-level exchanges and by technical cooperation in industry and energy. This explainer sets out how India-Romania relations developed, what drives them today, where the main sectors lie and what challenges remain. It was last reviewed on 17 October 2026.

Key Takeaways

• India and Romania established diplomatic relations in 1948, and the relationship was strengthened during the communist period through exchanges between leaders and cooperation in heavy industry and energy.
• Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007, so India-Romania relations now operate partly through EU rules on trade and mobility.
• Romania historically supplied oil-drilling and refining equipment to India, which created a long-standing link in oil-and-gas engineering.
• Indian information technology and pharmaceutical companies operate in Romania, which offers a skilled and cost-competitive workforce within the EU.
• Many Indian students study medicine in Romania, and in recent years Romania has also become a destination for Indian workers.
• During Operation Ganga in 2022, Romania was one of the neighbouring countries through which India evacuated its citizens from Ukraine.

How did India-Romania relations begin and develop?

India-Romania relations began with the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948, and they developed during the Cold War as India’s non-aligned diplomacy met Romania’s relatively independent line within the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. Romania under Nicolae Ceausescu cultivated ties with non-aligned countries, and Indian and Romanian leaders exchanged visits during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Cultural contact is older. The Romanian historian of religions and writer Mircea Eliade studied Indian philosophy at the University of Calcutta from 1928 and lived in India for several years, and his experiences influenced his later scholarship and his novel about his time in Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore’s works were also translated into Romanian, and Indology became an academic field in Bucharest.

Economic ties in the communist era were built on bilateral trade agreements, in which Romania exported industrial machinery, tractors and oil equipment, and India exported goods such as tea, jute and engineering products. The collapse of communism in Romania in December 1989 and the economic reforms in India after 1991 moved both countries to market-based relations, and trade dropped for some time before recovering.

Romania’s accession to NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007 changed the context again. The relationship was reframed as one between India and an EU member, and the first decade of the twenty-first century saw agreements on trade, culture and investment that updated the older framework.

What are the main sectors of India-Romania economic cooperation?

The main sectors of India-Romania economic cooperation are information technology, pharmaceuticals, automotive and engineering, oil-and-gas equipment, steel and infrastructure. The sectors reflect India’s strengths in services and generics and Romania’s industrial base and strategic position.

Bilateral trade in recent years has been estimated at roughly a billion to a few billion US dollars, with India usually exporting vehicles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles, and importing machinery, metals and chemical products. Exact figures differ between sources and years, so official statistics should be checked for current values.

Why does oil-and-gas engineering matter to India-Romania relations?

Oil-and-gas engineering matters to India-Romania relations because Romania is one of the world’s oldest oil-producing countries and, in the communist era, it manufactured drilling rigs and equipment that it exported to India. Romania’s petroleum industry dates to the nineteenth century, and the country developed specialised factories and engineering schools around it.

Indian state-owned oil companies such as the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited used Romanian-built rigs and technical services, and Romanian engineers worked on projects in India. This created lasting professional networks, and some older Indian oil-industry professionals trained or worked with Romanian counterparts.

Today the sector has changed. Romania’s major oil company Petrom is owned mainly by the Austrian group OMV, and Romania has offshore natural gas projects in the Black Sea. India, as one of the world’s largest energy importers, is interested in energy security, LNG and technology for deepwater exploration. Cooperation now focuses on services, digital tools for exploration and safety technology, and on dialogue about energy transition, rather than on large equipment supply.

Romania’s role as a Black Sea energy producer and a member of the EU also gives India a window into European energy policy, including methane regulations and decarbonisation rules.

How do India and Romania cooperate in defence and security?

India and Romania cooperate in defence and security mainly through political dialogue, training and education exchanges, and industry contacts, and the scale of this cooperation is modest. The relationship is shaped by Romania’s NATO and EU commitments and by India’s policy of diversified partnerships.

• Institutional dialogue: The two countries have held defence consultations and have agreements that allow for exchanges between armed forces, defence colleges and ministries.
• Industry contacts: Romanian defence manufacturers produce small arms, ammunition, armoured vehicles and aerospace components, and they take part in international defence exhibitions in India.
• Security dialogue: India and Romania discuss counter-terrorism, cyber security and maritime safety, including the Black Sea region.
• Training: Officers from partner countries sometimes attend courses in each other’s military institutions.

India’s policy of Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliance in defence, encourages joint production and technology partnership, and Romania has been mentioned as a possible partner for co-production of certain items. Any defence deals would be subject to export controls, EU rules and the strategic preferences of each side.

What is the role of labour mobility and education in India-Romania relations?

Labour mobility and education play a growing role in India-Romania relations because Romania faces labour shortages and attracts Indian workers, while thousands of Indian students study medicine and engineering at Romanian universities. These flows connect families and communities more directly than diplomatic meetings do.

Students

Romania is one of several Central and Eastern European countries where Indian students pursue medical degrees. The programmes are taught in English at universities such as those in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Timisoara, and the costs are lower than in many Western countries. Indian regulators require students to meet recognition and licensing conditions to practise in India, so prospective students should check current rules from the National Medical Commission.

Workers

Romania has a shrinking and ageing population and a large share of its workforce has emigrated to Western Europe. To fill vacancies in construction, hospitality, logistics and delivery services, the Romanian government has set annual quotas for workers from outside the EU, in the tens of thousands and at times around one hundred thousand a year. Indian workers have become one of the more visible groups of such migrants in recent years. The two governments have discussed mobility arrangements, and labour recruitment agencies play a major role, so workers are advised to use only licensed agents and verified employers to avoid fraud.

Indian community

The Indian community in Romania is relatively small by European standards but has been growing. It includes professionals in IT and business, students, and workers. The Indian embassy in Bucharest provides consular help and organises cultural events.

How does the European Union shape India-Romania relations?

The European Union shapes India-Romania relations because Romania, as an EU member since 1 January 2007, follows the Union’s common trade policy and applies EU rules on customs, standards and visas. Trade barriers and market access are therefore negotiated between India and the EU as a whole, not by Romania alone.

India and the EU have negotiated a trade and investment agenda for many years, and Romania has generally supported closer EU-India economic ties. Romania held the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2019 and has been an active supporter of EU engagement with the Indo-Pacific and with India.

Romania became part of the Schengen area for air and sea travel in March 2024 and for land borders in January 2025. A Schengen visa issued by another Schengen state may now allow travel in Romania in line with the rules, which matters for Indian business visitors and tourists, although travellers should verify current regulations. Romania also hosts EU-funded projects and benefits from EU cohesion funding, which creates opportunities for Indian suppliers and contractors in infrastructure and energy.

What happened during Operation Ganga and why did it matter?

Operation Ganga was India’s 2022 evacuation of Indian citizens, mostly students, from Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, and Romania was one of the neighbouring countries used as an exit and departure route. Indian nationals crossed from Ukraine into Romania, mainly at border points in the north, and were flown to India from Bucharest and other Romanian airports.

The Romanian authorities provided transit support, and Indian ministers and diplomats were deployed to the region to coordinate the effort. The episode raised public awareness in India of Romania and showed the practical value of good relations with neighbouring states in a crisis. It also highlighted the number of Indian students studying in Eastern Europe more broadly.

Timeline: key points in India-Romania relations

What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for India-Romania relations?

The main challenges for India-Romania relations are low awareness among businesses, the limited scale of trade relative to potential, and the difficulty of managing labour migration responsibly, while the main opportunities are in digital services, pharmaceuticals, energy and EU market access. Neither country is among the other’s top trading partners, so progress depends on proactive business and government outreach.

Opportunities

• Expanding Indian IT and engineering centres in Romanian cities with strong technical universities.
• Supplying Romania’s healthcare system with quality generic medicines and medical devices.
• Cooperating on energy, including gas, renewables and grid technology.
• Developing orderly mobility channels for students and skilled workers with proper protections.
• Using Romania’s location on the Black Sea and Danube for logistics and trade routes.

Challenges

• Limited direct air connections and a lack of familiarity with each other’s markets.
• Recognition of professional qualifications and compliance with EU product standards.
• Risks of exploitation of migrant workers by unlicensed recruiters.
• Regional security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine, which affect Romania’s priorities.

Bottom Line

India-Romania relations combine a long political history with practical interests in technology, health, energy and people-to-people links. The relationship is growing from a modest base, and its future depends on business engagement, sound mobility rules and the wider course of India-EU cooperation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When were diplomatic relations between India and Romania established?

India and Romania established diplomatic relations in 1948. The relationship strengthened during the Cold War through leader visits and technical cooperation, and it continued after Romania’s transition to democracy and its accession to the EU.

Why is Romania important for Indian oil-and-gas history?

Romania is important because it manufactured oil-drilling rigs and equipment that it supplied to India, especially during the communist period. Indian companies such as ONGC and Oil India used Romanian technology, which built lasting professional links between the two countries.

Why do many Indian students go to Romania?

Many Indian students go to Romania to study medicine and engineering in English at lower cost than in many Western countries. Students should check current recognition and licensing rules in India, since returning graduates generally need to meet the requirements set by Indian regulators.

Can Indian workers move to Romania for jobs?

Yes, Indian workers can obtain work permits in Romania if they have a job offer from an employer, within the annual quotas set by the Romanian government for non-EU workers. Applicants should use licensed recruiters and verify employers carefully, because fraud involving fake job offers is a known risk.

How did Romania help during the Ukraine evacuation?

Romania served as one of the neighbouring countries through which India evacuated its citizens from Ukraine during Operation Ganga in 2022. Indian nationals crossed the border into Romania and were flown home from Romanian airports, with support from Romanian authorities.

Does India have a free trade agreement with Romania?

No, India does not have a separate free trade agreement with Romania, because Romania is part of the European Union and trade policy is set at EU level. India and the EU have negotiated a wider trade agreement, and its status should be checked in current official sources.

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