The current estimated strength of the Indian Community living in the Russian Federation is around 15,000. It includes students, businessmen and others staying in Russia since long, apart from Mission personnel and their families. In addition, there are about 1,000 - 1,500 Afghan nationals of Indian origin staying in Russia and engaged in various business activities.

Students form the major chunk of the Indian population. The estimated strength of the student community has grown from around 3,500 in 1993 to approximately 5,000 in 2001. There are about 1500 students in Moscow alone.

There are over 500 Indian businessmen in Russia today of which over 200 are in Moscow. Of the Indian companies, around 300 are registered as Indian companies while the rest are registered as Russian companies. Almost all Indian businessmen/Companies are involved in trading. Tea, coffee, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, rice, spices, leather footwear and garments and readymade cotton garments are the main products, which are being imported by these companies from India. A small number of Indian nationals are also working for large multinational companies in Moscow and other cities of Russia.

The Indian Business Alliance (IBA), an association of Indian businessmen has a membership of over 80 businessmen. The IBA was formally registered in Russia in the beginning of 2001 and has now started inviting non-Indian companies also. The IBA works as a bridge between India and Russia and facilitates Indo-Russian commercial relations.

Indian Association (erstwhile Hindustani Samaj) during around 50 years of its existence has been in the forefront of social and cultural life in Moscow. It works in close co-operation with the Indian Embassy and endeavours to maintain cordial and active relations with the other organizations of Indians in this country. Apart from the Indian Association, other splinter cultural organizations include the Bhartiya Sanskritik Samaj and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. There is also a Ramakrishna Society Vedanta Centre at Moscow with another branch at St. Petersburg. The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, the Embassy of India Club and the Indian Women’s Association encourage participation of the Indian community in national \ social \ cultural events and provide many opportunities for bringing them together.

There is also a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Moscow, affliated to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathana in New Delhi. Its staff members are sent on deputation from India. Besides children of Indian Embassy officials and other Indian nationals, some foreign nationals also attend this school. The school has classes from I to XII and the number of students is around 300.