Cultural Diplomacy

5.1 Yoga Diplomacy

India proposed International Yoga Day at the UN General Assembly in September 2014. The resolution was adopted 11 December 2014 with 177 co-sponsoring countries — the highest for any UN resolution. 21 June was declared International Yoga Day.

Key facts:

• 2015 (inaugural): PM Modi led yoga at Rajpath — Guinness record (35,985 people)
• 2024 Theme: "Yoga for Self and Society"
• Yoga practiced in 190+ countries; global yoga market ≈$80 billion annually
• Ministry of AYUSH (created 2014) promotes Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy internationally

5.2 Buddhism as Soft Power

India leverages its status as Buddhism's birthplace for diplomatic influence across Buddhist-majority nations.

Key instruments:

• Buddhist Circuit: Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Lumbini (Nepal), Kushinagar, Nalanda, Rajgir — spiritual pilgrim tourism
• Nalanda International University: Revived under Nalanda University Act (2010); located in Rajgir, Bihar; PM Modi dedicated the new campus (June 2024)
• India-Sri Lanka: Ashoka's son Mahendra carried Buddhism to Sri Lanka — deep civilisational link
• India-ASEAN: Buddhist heritage connects India to Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam
• India-Japan and India-South Korea: Buddhist connections reinforce bilateral ties

5.3 ICCR — Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Established in 1950 under Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, ICCR is India's premier cultural diplomacy institution.

Key functions:

• Runs 37 Indian Cultural Centres in 29 countries — Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil classes; performances; yoga
• Scholarship programmes: 3,200+ ICCR scholarships annually to students from 160+ countries
• Nehru Award for International Understanding: Awarded to foreign dignitaries; recipients include Ho Chi Minh (1966), Mother Teresa (1969), Julius Nyerere (1976), Willy Brandt (1985)
• Tagore Cultural Centres: ICCR centres rebranded in select locations

5.4 Brand India and Bollywood

Bollywood is India's most globally recognised cultural export:

• Hindi film industry: ≈1,800 films annually; global box office ≈$3 billion
• Large audiences in GCC (15% of viewers), UK, US, and West Africa
• Promotes Hindi language as a vehicle for soft power
• Film diplomacy: Co-production agreements with UK, Italy, Germany, France, China, Brazil

Indian cuisine as cultural diplomacy:

• Curry houses, tandoori restaurants, and Indian vegetarianism spread globally
• India served Indian food at G20 state dinners (New Delhi, 2023) — symbolic "food diplomacy"

5.5 India-Middle East Corridor and Cultural Ties

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Announced at G20 New Delhi Summit (September 2023). The proposed rail and shipping route connects India → UAE → Saudi Arabia → Jordan → Israel → Greece → Europe — positioned as an alternative to China's BRI.

India-UAE bilateral — most robust India-Middle East relationship:

• Bilateral trade: $85 billion (2023) — India's 3rd largest trading partner
• CEPA (2022): India's fastest FTA negotiation (completed in 88 days)
• UPI in UAE: RuPay card and UPI accepted at UAE outlets
• I2U2 Group (India-Israel-UAE-USA): cooperation on water, energy, food, and health

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