This article covers India's cooperation with Algeria in defence and space, together with cultural activities and the Indian community in Algeria. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026.

Defence cooperation

India and Algeria signed an Agreement for cooperation in the Military field on 3 November 2024. The MEA brief of April 2026 records several senior military visits between the two countries in 2024 and 2025.

General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, visited Algeria from 31 October to 3 November 2024. He travelled on the invitation of General Said Chanegriha, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defence and Chief of Staff of the People's National Army of Algeria, to take part in the 70th Anniversary of Algeria's War of Independence.

General Said Chanegriha led a 12-member delegation to India from 05-12 February 2025 to participate in Aero India 2025. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff of India, visited Algeria from 25-28 August 2025.

Space cooperation

India and Algeria signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of space sciences, technologies and application on 19 September 2018. The agreement was signed during the visit of the Director General of the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) to ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru. According to the brief, it has been ratified by both sides and has come into force.

During that visit, the Director General of ASAL discussed specific areas of cooperation with ISRO officials:

  • crop forecasting application using satellite imagery
  • methodology for solar energy assessment
  • Bhuvan platform for Algeria
  • disaster management systems

Earlier, on 26 September 2016, India launched four satellites for Algeria under a commercial arrangement, using the Indian launch vehicle PSLV C-35 from Sriharikota. They comprised 3 micro satellites (ALSAT-1B, ALSAT-2B and ALSAT-1N) and 1 nano satellite.

Broadcasting

In 2015, two broadcasting MoUs were signed: one between AIR and Algerian National Radio, and one between Doordarshan and Algerian National Television.

International Day of Yoga

The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated on 21 June 2025 at the French garden of Jardin d'essai du Hamma in Algiers. According to the brief, this was the fourth time that IDY was organised at a well known public space. More than 400 yoga enthusiasts of all ages and from different walks of life took part.

Visits by Algerian parliamentarians to India, including under the 'Leaders of Future' programme in 2013 and 2014, are listed in the relations article. Indian parliamentary delegations to Algeria listed in the brief are:

  • a 7-Member Parliamentary Goodwill delegation led by Dr. C. D. Pande, 14-18 December 1965
  • a high level delegation led by Smt. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Member of Parliament, for the Fourth Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of Algeria, 3-7 July 1966
  • Smt. Prashawati Gupte, Member of Parliament, 24 February-2 March 1986, for the 10th Anniversary of SADR
  • Shri Anand Sharma, Member of Parliament, 18-19 and 21-22 May 1988, for the 15th Anniversary of Polisario
  • a 4-member Parliamentary delegation led by Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, 1-3 February 2002
  • a 7-member All-Party delegation led by Shri Baijayant Panda, Member of Parliament, 30 May-2 June 2025

The Indian community in Algeria

According to the brief, there are currently 4052 Indians working on various projects and in establishments in Algeria. Many are technically skilled persons working on projects in remote areas, while a large number of workers are semi-skilled and work as masons, carpenters, painters and welders.

There are 28 Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)/Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) Card holders and 14 Indian students in Algeria.