As the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) marks its 76th Foundation Day on April 9, 2025, it’s not just a milestone, but a reminder of how India continues to strengthen its global footprint through culture, art, language, and people-to-people connections. Established in 1950 by India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, ICCR remains the heart of India’s cultural diplomacy.
A Vision Rooted in Cultural Exchange
Founded in the early years of India’s independence, ICCR aimed to foster deeper understanding between India and the world. Today, it is a key wing of India’s soft power strategy, operating under the Ministry of External Affairs. With 38 cultural centres in 36 countries and 11 regional offices within India, the Council actively engages in cultural, academic, and intellectual collaborations.
ICCR’s work extends across a wide spectrum of cultural expressions, from dance to diplomacy and yoga to youth festivals. It supports scholarly exchanges, funds artistic performances, and publishes Indian literary and philosophical works in various languages.
🌍 International Performances and Cross-Cultural Dialogues
In celebration of this Foundation Day, artists from Chile recently performed a vibrant ballet titled Bafochi in Lucknow, reflecting ICCR’s commitment to showcasing cultural diversity. The performance was held in collaboration with the Department of Culture, UP Tourism, and UP Sangeet Natak Academy, bringing global art to Indian audiences and vice versa.
Over the years, ICCR has brought hundreds of international cultural troupes to India while sending Indian artists abroad, ensuring that the dialogue of cultures is a two-way street.
📚 Promoting India’s Rich Intellectual Heritage
ICCR is also a publishing powerhouse. From the writings of Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore, and Maulana Azad, to translations of Sanskrit classics into languages like French, Arabic, Russian, and Spanish, the council helps ensure that India’s literary and philosophical contributions are accessible to global readers.
The Council’s Distinguished Indologist Award, World Sanskrit Award, and Promotion of Buddhism Award recognize international scholars and cultural contributors who help carry forward India’s spiritual and intellectual traditions.
🎓 Supporting Education and Youth Exchange
With over 3,500 scholarships offered annually to international students, ICCR also plays a pivotal role in educational diplomacy. These students not only study in India but also become informal ambassadors of Indian culture when they return home.
ICCR also facilitates global conversations on art, heritage, gender, education, and tradition through conferences, workshops, and seminars across the world.
🧘 ICCR and Yoga’s Global Presence
Since 2015, ICCR has been coordinating International Day of Yoga events with Indian missions abroad—helping make yoga a global movement.
🏛️ ICCR Headquarters and Global Presence
The ICCR headquarters is located at Azad Bhavan, I.P. Estate, New Delhi, with regional offices in cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Hyderabad. It has cultural centres in cities including London, Berlin, Dhaka, Moscow, Bangkok, and Tokyo, and more are being added under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.
🎖️ Why ICCR Matters
At a time when global politics often fractures connections between nations, ICCR serves as a reminder that culture unites where politics divides. Through music, food, dance, language, and shared wisdom, it continues to build bridges rooted in respect, tradition, and creativity.
As India celebrates 76 years of cultural diplomacy, the ICCR continues to remind the world that India’s greatest strength may just be its soul—expressed in the stories, rhythms, philosophies, and colors it shares with the world.
