MOSCOW (PTI): India and Russia will hold a joint military exercise from November 18 to 28 in Uttar Pradesh, Russian authorities said Wednesday, ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi.

The exercise – Indra-2018 – will see participation of about 250 servicemen of motorised infantry units of Russia's Eastern Military District (EMD), according to a statement by the EMD.

President Putin will be on a two-day visit to India beginning October 4 to hold the annual India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a focus on further boosting bilateral ties, specially defence cooperation.

"The final conference on preparations for the joint Russian-Indian exercise, Indra-2018, has taken place in India," the statement said.

"The sides agreed that the exercise will be held at a training ground near the town of Babina in the state of Uttar Pradesh of the Republic of India, from November 18 to November 28, 2018," it said.

"The Russian side plans to send about 250 servicemen of motorised infantry units of the Eastern Military District, deployed in the Primorye Region (in the Far East)," the statement added.