Diplomatic relations between Poland and India at the embassy level were established in 1954, with Poland opening its Embassy in New Delhi in the same year. This was followed by the opening of India’s Embassy in Warsaw in 1957. Earlier, a Consulate of the Republic of Poland was located in Mumbai between 1933 and 1939. In addition to the Consulate General in Mumbai, Poland also established an Honorary Consulate in Kolkata and Bangalore.
Poland and India share several significant chapters in history. Interestingly, Kanika House on Tilak Marg which holds historical significance pertaining to Indian history was later turned into the residence of the Polish Ambassador. ‘Insaaf ki kothi’, as it was known, was where Dr. B. R. Ambedkar lived, on his appointment as India’s first law minister, from 1947 to 1951.
Poland and India have maintained a long and successful friendly relationship. Poland and India have recorded high-level political exchanges and vibrant economic cooperation. In regard to frequent reciprocal high-level visits, Poland and India hold strong bilateral relations. The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, paid a visit to Poland in 1955. Subsequently, there were several visits from leaders of both sides. Significant visits after 1989 from Poland include former Presidents Lech Walesa in 1994 and 1998, and Alexander Kwasniewski in 1998. In 2010, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited India. In 2017, the then-Vice President of India Hamid Ansari embarked on a three-day official visit to Poland.
High-level exchanges between India and Poland have gained momentum in recent years. In 2019, the Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, paid an official visit to Poland. That same year, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcin Przydacz, visited India to announce the launch of direct flights between Warsaw and Delhi. In 2022, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau, undertook an official visit to India. More recently, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, visited India twice—in 2024 and again in 2025.
The latest significant visit to Poland by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place in August 2024 to commemorate the 70th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During the visit, Poland and India elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and launched a comprehensive five-year Joint Action Plan (2024–2028) to deepen cooperation in defence, trade, energy, technology, education, and culture. Arrangements have been made for regular high-level interactions, annual political discussions, and security consultations to boost the strategic relationship. Key outcomes included the signing of a Social Security Agreement to benefit skilled workers, renewed defence collaboration with a focus on military modernisation, and initiatives to promote people-to-people ties and cultural exchange. The visit also honoured historical connections, including Poland’s support during the 2001 Gujarat earthquake and India’s role in sheltering Polish refugees during World War II. Reflecting on the visit, Prime Minister Modi said, “My Poland visit has been special. It is after decades that an Indian PM set foot on Polish soil. This visit gave an opportunity to deepen cooperation with a valued friend. We look forward to closer business and cultural connect with Poland. Our friendship can certainly contribute to a better planet. I thank the Polish people and Government for their warmth.”
The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024 was marked by a series of commemorative events, including cultural festivals, academic conferences, and business forums organised in both countries. A special exhibition titled ‘India–Poland: 70 Years of Friendship’ was held in Warsaw, showcasing archival photos and documents. Joint press statements from both leaders reiterated a shared commitment to democracy, development, and multilateralism.
The visit of the Indian Prime Minister was followed by the visit of the Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Michał Gramatyka to India in October 2024 on the occasion of the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly 2024, which was held in New Delhi. In addition, two delegations of Polish parliamentarians paid a visit to India in late 2024 and 2025 to expand the engagement between legislative branches in both countries.
The second India-Poland Policy Planning Dialogue (PPD) was held in Warsaw in February 2025 between delegations led by Mr. S. Raghuram, Joint Secretary (PP&R), Ministry of External Affairs, India and Mr. Lukasz Pawlowski, Director (Strategy), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland. The first India-Poland PPD was held virtually on 24th March 2021.
Both sides have agreed to enhance collaboration on sustainable technology and clean energy. For instance, during the EXPO Katowice 2024, Polish companies like PATENTUS S.A., WĘGLOKOKS S.A., and the Central Mining Institute signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate with Indian counterparts such as TKIL, BTL EPC Ltd, and Shrachi Group to modernise the mining sector in Poland and expand into the Indian market.
In recent times security has been very important for all nations, including cyber-security. Poland and India condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to make joint efforts to eliminate the same. Among many ventures, at the forefront is WB Group, a leading Polish defence company, known for its unmanned aerial systems and communications technologies, which has established a joint venture in India named “WB Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.”
Economic Relations
As far as trade perspectives are concerned, bilateral trade between Poland and India has grown substantially. In 2023, the value of Polish-Indian trade exceeded 5.72 billion USD. If we consider the period between 2013 and 2023, bilateral trade has grown by 192%. In the case of imports and exports, it is seen that India’s major exports to Poland include iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery and instruments, auto parts, and surgical items. On the other hand, India’s imports from Poland include machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral products, base metals and articles, artificial resins, and plastic material. Polish businesses have successfully expanded into India in sectors such as packaging, sanitary product manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, automotive and railway components, defence technologies, IT, furniture, cosmetics, and a wide range of green technologies. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has sent several delegations to Poland to explore economic opportunities in various sectors.
In areas of Central and Eastern Europe, Poland is undoubtedly a significant trading and investment ally of India. Indian firms have heavily contributed to the process of creating local job opportunities in Poland. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has a presence in cities like Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, and Wrocław, TCS employs over 4,000 people in Poland. The company provides Information Technology (IT) services and consulting to various industries, including banking, insurance, telecommunications, and manufacturing. Similarly, Polish IT company Billennium has expanded its operations in India, exploring opportunities in Artificial Intelligence (AI), IT and cyber-security solutions.
Cultural Relations
It is widely known that Poland carries a rich tradition of Indology. In a much earlier period (during the 19th century), Polish scholars began translating Sanskrit into Polish. The Jagiellonian University in Kraków is one of the oldest institutions where a Chair of Sanskrit was established in 1893. The Department of the Oriental Institute at the University of Warsaw was founded in the year 1932. It has earned the reputation as the largest centre for Indian studies in Central Europe. Also worthy of mention are the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the University of Wrocław. Indian languages, literature, culture, and Indology are studied in the above universities. A landmark event in the domain of cultural and educational ties between the two countries was held in September 2005. It was, in fact, the first regional conference on Indology in Central and Eastern Europe. The conference was sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and took place at Warsaw University. It was attended by 19 scholars from 11 countries, resulting in several key outcomes, including the strengthening of scholarly networks, the promotion of interdisciplinary research in Indology, and the establishment of new collaboration opportunities.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Poland and India in February 2017 which subsequently established an ICCR Chair of Indian Studies at Jagiellonian University, Krakow. As a follow-up, three Indian Professors have served as the ICCR chair of Indian Studies since the agreement. The cultural bond between the two countries moved ahead due to the academic push by Prof. Maria Krzysztof Byrski, a distinguished Polish Indologist and a renowned Sanskrit scholar of eminence. He was appointed as Poland’s Ambassador to India from 1993 to 1996. As a token of his scholarship and contribution to the development of Indology, he was honoured with the Padma Shri Award by the President of India in March 2022 for his significant contributions to literature and education. He educated Polish Indologists and sincerely undertook the translation of works of Manusmriti, Kamasutra, and the dramas of Bhasa and Kalidasa into Polish. On 12th October 2023, the ICCR President Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe awarded the Bharat Mitr Samman, also known as the Distinguished Indologist Award to Dr. Joanna Jurewicz, Chair of South Asia Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw, in recognition of the cultural ties between Poland and India.
There are several Indo-Polish Friendship Societies that promote Indian culture and people-to-people contacts between the two nations. Indo-Polish Cultural Committee (IPCC), Indian Association of Poland (IAP), and Friends of India in Poland in Warsaw (FIPW) are some of the institutions that serve as bridges connecting the people of India and Poland, enhancing bilateral relations through cultural diplomacy and grassroots engagement.
Poland also has a rich history of yoga, with International Day of Yoga being celebrated in different cities of the country. The growing popularity of Kabaddi in Poland culminated in the country hosting the European Beach Kabaddi Championship in Augustów in August 2024—an event acknowledged by Prime Minister Modi as a symbol of the expanding people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Space Exploration
In space, Poland and India have agreed to work towards finalising the comprehensive cooperation agreement that promotes the safe, secure, and sustainable use of space. Cooperation in this field will foster the development of a commercial space ecosystem and support both human and robotic space exploration, reflecting a shared advancement in scientific innovation and exploration. In the recent Axiom 4 (AX-4) mission, Indian astronaut Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has served as Mission Pilot, alongside Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland/ESA); Commander Peggy Whitson (USA, former NASA astronaut); and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary/ESA).
Conclusion
Poland and India have built a strong and dynamic partnership rooted in shared democratic values, historical goodwill, and expanding areas of cooperation. Over the years, their relationship has grown across sectors such as trade, defence, culture, and education. High-level engagements and consistent diplomatic efforts have reinforced mutual trust and understanding. As both countries navigate a rapidly changing global landscape, their bilateral ties are poised to deepen further, offering new opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth in the years to come.
