India's equity benchmarks are set to open higher on Friday, after last session's steep intraday losses, on optimism that a proposed U.S.-Russia presidential meeting next week could ease Washington's stance on India's energy engagement with Russia.

TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING: The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin and Trump will meet in the ‘coming days’ after the U.S. president said he hoped to hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart in person to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.