India Supreme Court orders nodal officer for war families

India's Supreme Court has directed the central government to establish a dedicated point of contact for families of Indian nationals who have been killed, injured, or gone missing while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war. The order, issued on Friday, July 31, 2026, mandates the Ministry of External Affairs to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with affected families and facilitate the return of mortal remains through DNA matching.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by family members of those allegedly recruited into the Russian military. The court noted that over two hundred people, primarily from the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, had traveled to Russia in 2024-2025 for work in sectors like hospitality. The petition alleges these individuals were deceived by travel agents who seized their passports upon arrival in Russia and enrolled them in the Russian Army for deployment to war zones.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the government, provided updated figures. She stated that 219 Indian nationals had fought in the...