Indian Council for Cultural Relations
Why in News?
On April 9, 2026, the ICCR celebrated 77 years of fostering global cultural ties. Major events were held at Delhi University and Indian missions worldwide, featuring performances by international students from over 9 countries.
Key Information
- The ICCR serves as the primary arm for India’s "soft power" and cultural diplomacy under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
- Founded: April 9, 1950, by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India's first Education Minister.
- Status: An autonomous body that formulates and implements policies related to India’s external cultural relations.
- HQ: Located at Azad Bhavan, New Delhi, with 11 regional offices across India.
Core Activities & Functions
- Cultural Exchange: Organises festivals, exhibitions, and performances by Indian artists abroad and foreign artists in India.
- Academic Chairs: Maintains over 90 Chairs of Indian Studies in foreign universities to teach Hindi, Sanskrit, and Indian philosophy.
- Cultural Centres: Manages a global network of 37 Indian Cultural Centres (Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centres).
- Annapurna Certificate: Recognises authentic Indian restaurants abroad that promote traditional Indian cuisine.
Scholarship Schemes
ICCR administers roughly 3,900+ annual scholarships across 21 schemes, including:
- Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship: Specifically for studying Indian performing arts.
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship: For UG, PG, and PhD courses across 130+ Indian universities.
- Suborno Jayanti Scheme: A dedicated scholarship for students from Bangladesh.
Flagship Programmes
- Gen-Next Democracy Network: Invites young leaders from 75 democracies to visit India and experience its democratic heritage and developmental progress.
- Distinguished Visitors Program: Hosts roughly 40 eminent global thinkers and influencers annually to foster high-level dialogue.
- Global Alumni Connect: Maintains a digital database of international students who studied in India, turning them into "informal ambassadors".
Download Pdf
