Terming India a "Cultural Super Power" Dr Karan Singh, President of ICCR in his address to the Heads of Missions underscored the role and importance of cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy tools in projecting India's soft power. He also stressed on the message of universalism enshrined in the ancient Indian philosophy of Vedanta.

The Indian mission has discussed promoting Yoga and Ayurveda in Russia with the Russian State University for the Humanities... Considering how much a part of Russian life yoga has become, the physical, mental and spiritual disciplines of the ancient science are now the biggest proponents of Indian soft power in the country.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has added a culinary dimension to the exercise of "smart power" by enlisting 80 top chefs including an Indian-American in the aid of diplomacy. Mumbai native Vikram Sunderam, executive chef at Rasika, a top end Indian restaurant in Washington, is part of the State Department's new Diplomatic Culinary Partnership initiative.

"Today's India truly enjoys soft power, and that may well be the most valuable way in which it can offer leadership to the twenty-first-century world," says Tharoor in Pax Indica: India And The World Of The 21st Century which discusses India's international relationships.

Closer cooperation in the fields of trade, public diplomacy, and communication was advocated at the 5th South Asia Economic Summit which began in Islamabad on Tuesday. Speakers believed that, Pakistan and India can play a leading role for deeper regional integration as the two major nations of South Asia,

The purpose of the video contest was for the world to tell the story of India's soft power, as they saw it. The video challenge aimed to allow individuals from different cultures and backgrounds to express their creativity, understanding and display their artistic prowess on subjects that really define our nation.

India's soft power remains its biggest strength in being a global leader but strict visa rules has dented the country's image abroad, writes former Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor in his new book. "Today's India truly enjoys soft power, and that may well be the most valuable way in which it can offer leadership to the twenty-first-century world."