Lok Sabha Question No. 1347 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Capacity Building
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1347

## ANSWERED ON- 09/02/2024

## CAPACITY BUILDING

1347. SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY SHRI BHOLA SINGH

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

- (a)   whether   the   Government   has   established   any   structured mechanism to enhance India's soft power across the globe and if so,
- the details thereof:
- (b) the new initiatives of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) towards   strengthening   soft   power   along   with   the   details   of
- budgetary expenditure therefor;
- (c) the details of the countries where these initiatives are running;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to focus on capacity building to promote India's interest on the global stage; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken / proposed to be taken for the same?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. MEENAKSHI LEKHI)

(a to e) Under the guidance of Ministry, ICCR has taken various new initiatives   to   develop   cultural   relations   and   create   mutual understanding   with   other   nations.   It   has   made   new   forays   in projecting India's democratic credentials, cuisine, art and craft, in addition to ongoing activities such as Yoga, Classical Dance, Music, etc. ICCR runs its cultural centers abroad which conduct regular activities   to   promote   Indian   culture   and   strengthen   cultural exchanges with the partner countries. ICCR also regularly sponsors

cultural troupes to perform abroad and also hosts visiting cultural troupes from other countries. During 2023-24, ICCR organized IndoLatin   America   Cultural   Festival,   International   Dance   and   Music Festival,   International   Folk   Dance   Festival,   for   which   cultural troupes from a large number of countries, including Chile, Ecuador, Columbia, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Cuba, Ethiopia, Vietnam,   Croatia,   Turkmenistan,   Kyrgyz   Republic,   Sri   Lanka, Thailand, Panama, Romania and Iraq participated.

## Some of the initiatives of ICCR include:

- (i) updating the existing A2A portal;
- (ii) launching   a   new   portal,   Gyan   Setu,   for   its   scholarship programmes;
- (iii) signing   of   MoUs   with   educational   institutions   and   State Governments;
- (iv) organizing   Knowledge   India   Visitors   Programme,   inviting Heads of Departments in foreign universities teaching India related subjects;
- (v) instituted   Annapurna   Certificate   and   awarded   selected restaurants from USA, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Oman, Sweden and Mongolia for their outstanding contribution in promotion of Indian cuisine and culinary traditions abroad; and
- (vi) hosting 138 young leaders from different countries under the Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme and 28 leaders from Buddhist   countries   under   Buddha   Bhoomi   Vandan   Yatra Programme during 2023-24.

With a view to capacity building of partner countries, ICCR offers scholarship   slots   to   foreign   nationals   under   its   21   scholarship schemes. During 2023-24, 3775 such scholarship slots were offered. Currently, ICCR has deployed 17 Chairs on India Studies at various universities abroad. These include chairs in History, Economics, Political   Science,   Philosophy,   Buddhist   Studies,   Tamil,   Hindi, Sanskrit and Hindi-cum-Urdu.

The budget allocated to ICCR in the year 2023-24 is Rs. 345.21 crores.

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