India Mongolia Relations

Why In News: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, recently hosted Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of Mongolia.

This is his second visit to India in October 2025. Earlier he undertook a State Visit to India, commemorating the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10^th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Geographical Details: Mongolia

• It’s a landlocked country located in north-central Asia.
• Land Boundary: Russia (north) and China (south).
• Southern Mongolia is dominated by the Gobi Desert (cold desert).
• The country is called the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky and the Land of the Horse.

Recent Announcements and Initiatives: 2025

• Oil Refinery Project: India will continue funding the construction of an oil refinery in Mongolia — a landmark project symbolizing India’s support for Mongolia’s energy independence and economic diversification.
• Defence Cooperation: India will provide training to Mongolian armed forces, enhancing bilateral defence ties.
• Visa Liberalization: India will offer free e-visas to Mongolian citizens, promoting people-to-people and tourism exchanges.
• Cultural Partnership: Ladakh will be twinned with a province in Mongolia to foster cultural and monastic linkages.

Buddhist and Cultural Diplomacy

• India will send the holy relics of Lord Buddha’s disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, to Mongolia in 2026, strengthening spiritual and cultural ties.
• A Sanskrit teacher will be deputed to Gandan Monastery to support advanced Buddhist studies.
• The historic Nalanda University–Gandan Monastery linkage will be revived to deepen scholarly and cultural exchanges, reflecting the shared Buddhist heritage of both nations.

Economic Cooperation

• Mongolia has offered coking coal reserves to India — critical for India’s steel industry.
• Logistics remain a challenge: coal transport would require routes either via Tianjin Port (China) or Vladivostok (Russia), necessitating a feasibility and cost analysis.

Background

• India and Mongolia share a long-standing relationship based on spiritual, cultural, and democratic values.
• Mongolia is India’s Strategic Partner since 2015.

The oil refinery project, financed by India’s USD 1.236 billion Line of Credit, is one of India’s largest overseas development projects.

Source: PIB

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