The incident was the latest in a string of cultural flashpoints surrounding the centuries-old Indian practice, and has made many a yogi rethink the lines between cultural exchange and cultural appropriation.

More than 1,700 chefs in 150 countries are conjuring up French feasts in bars, restaurants, embassies and even a prison as a part of the “Good France” festival, a massive diplomatic push to promote the country’s famed gastronomic culture.

He spoke about India hosting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup football tournament next year and said it is a great opportunity for branding the country at the international level, for which immense awareness needs to be created within the nation. 

Terming India an “affordable destination” for quality education, HRD minister Smriti Irani today said the release of rankings of educational institutions and decision by IITs to hold entrance tests abroad will draw more foreign students to the country. Speaking at an event organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) here, Irani spoke of the importance of educational and cultural diplomacy. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday held a meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas during which they did a comprehensive review of the bilateral ties between the two countries and explored the possibility of elevating the relationship between the two countries to a new level.