A delegation of 27 senior journalists from West and Central Africa and Oceania visited the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) recently as part of a familiarisation programme organised by the XP Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The visiting journalists held an interactive session with ICCR Director General K. Nandini Singla and senior members of the ICCR team, focusing on India’s evolving approach to cultural diplomacy and its growing engagement with Africa and Oceania. The discussions highlighted how culture, education and people-to-people exchanges form a key pillar of India’s foreign policy outreach.
A major focus of the interaction was India’s expanding educational cooperation with partner countries. ICCR currently offers over 4,000 scholarships every year to students from nearly 130 countries under various schemes. Of these, more than 1,100 scholarships annually are earmarked for students from 54 African countries under the India–Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme, reflecting New Delhi’s strong commitment to the continent.
ICCR officials informed the delegation that efforts are underway to further enhance scholarship opportunities for African students. At present, five African nations feature among the top ten countries receiving the highest number of ICCR scholarships. Overall, 3,020 students from 45 African countries are currently studying in India under ICCR programmes.
The scale of academic engagement was underlined by the fact that 727 African students are enrolled at Andhra University, while Delhi University hosts 188 ICCR scholars. Participants noted that such educational exchanges play a crucial role in strengthening long-term bonds between India and its partner countries.
The visit offered the journalists a firsthand understanding of India’s cultural and educational outreach, reinforcing the role of ICCR as a key institution in promoting mutual understanding and deepening India’s ties with Africa and Oceania through soft power diplomacy.