Indian Council for Cultural Relations

The latest edition of the India Foundation Journal features contributions from the Vice President of India, soft power experts and more.

The national capital is set to witness a convergence of top Jazz artistes from all over the world at 7th Delhi International Jazz Festival starting from September 23. Organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the three-day music festival will be held at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri here. The Jazz festival will bring together artists from India and countries like France, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and South Africa.

Top Indian band ‘INDIAN OCEAN’ which is visiting Azerbaijan on an international tour performed a captivating concert at Baku Sea side Boulevard on September 11, 2017 which was much enjoyed by Azerbaijani as well as tourists...The present visit of Indian Ocean Band comes as a part of the celebrations of 25th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

June 11, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran raised interest not just in India but across the world. [...] The cultural agenda was covered under the largely unnoticed third agreement signed under the PM’s aegis by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation.

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. 

India's soft power was being driven by its economic growth. But all that crashed after 2008. Almost 85 chairs for India studies were created, new cultural centres conceived and opened. But as budgets did not grow, they took a hit in the last couple of years.

India’s premier agency for cultural diplomacy, the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), now run by the Ministry of External Affairs may soon change hands. The 63-year-old autonomous body’s mandate is to promote Indian culture abroad and is part of the government’s strategic use of soft power to woo foreign countries. MEA feels that hard selling India’s soft power in foreign countries through exchange of artistes, exhibitions, festivals, and even yoga is a better fit with the culture ministry.