The Indian Council for
Cultural Relations (ICCR), an autonomous organisation of
the Government of India, was established in 1950. The objectives of the
Council, as defined in its Memorandum of Association, are
:
to participate in the formulation
and implementation of policies and programmes relating to
India’s external cultural relations
to promote cultural exchange with
other countries and peoples
to promote and strengthen cultural
relations and mutual understanding between India and
other countries
to establish and develop relations
with national and international organisations in the
field of culture
The Council, with its
Headquarters in Azad Bhavan, New Delhi, carries out this mandate of cultural diplomacy
through a
wide spectrum of activities which include:
A. Programmes Wing:
exchanges of visits by scholars,
academicians, opinion-makers, artists & writers
facilitation of the organisation of
and participation in seminars and symposia abroad
exchanges of visits by performing
arts groups
exchanges of exhibitions
commissioning of busts and statues
of Indian leaders for installation abroad
presentation abroad of informatics,
audio-visual material, books on India & Indian
musical instruments
active collaboration in the
operations of some Foreign Cultural Centres in India (
e.g. nine of the thirteen British Libraries in India ---
the ones outside the four metropolitan cities --- are run
jointly by the ICCR and the British Council )
B.Administration
& Education Wing
administering of scholarship
schemes for foreign students for studies in India
assisting organisation of and
participation in seminars and symposia in India
maintaining the Council’s
Regional Offices in India and its Cultural Centres abroad
establishing & maintaining
Chairs & Professorships for Indian Studies in
Universities abroadaal Centres abroad
administering the Jawaharlal Nehru
Award for International Understanding
>The Council has Cultural Centres
abroad in : Georgetown,
Paramaribo, Port Louis, Jakarta,
Moscow, Berlin, Cairo,
London,
Tashkent, Almaty, Johannesburg, Durban, Port of Spain & Colombo (in order of establishment)
>The Programmes Wing of
the Council can be accessed at two WebSites :
>Information about studying in
India and the more than 700 scholarships under various
schemes offered annually by the Council is also accessible on the
Internet at : this site
maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs. You could e-mail DDG(A) for more information, if required
Indian Council for Cultural Relations
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