THEMATIC PAGE · 05 OF 08
People-to-people.
Diaspora, tourism, education, and cultural exchange. India's 32 million-strong diaspora is the world's largest and is central to its soft power. This page tracks scholarships, visa frameworks, and people-movement agreements.
59
Country partners
5
Sub-themes
9
Active frameworks
BY SUB-THEME · PARTNER COUNT
59 countries cooperating with India on people-to-people
SHOWING 59 OF 59
Each card shows the headline framework or programme.
United States
NORTH AMERICA
4.4 million Indian-Americans; world's most powerful diaspora
The Indian-American community — 4.4 million strong — is the US's wealthiest and most educated immigrant group. Indian-origin CEOs run Google, Microsoft, IBM, Adobe, and more. H-1B visa programme is the primary tech talent pipeline. Indian students make up the largest international student group in the US (over 330,000). Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and diaspora conventions bind the relationship.
United Arab Emirates
WEST ASIA
3.5 million Indians — the largest expat community in any country
Indians are the UAE's largest expatriate group at 3.5 million — outnumbering UAE nationals. They dominate construction, healthcare, IT, retail, and hospitality. UAE is India's top source of remittances. Annual remittance flow exceeds $15 billion. Worker welfare agreements, emergency evacuation frameworks, and consular coverage in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and six other points.
United Kingdom
EUROPE
1.8 million British Indians; NHS, Parliament, and Downing Street
British Indians — 1.8 million — are the UK's second-largest ethnic minority and among its most prosperous. India is the single largest source of NHS doctors and nurses. Rishi Sunak served as Prime Minister 2022–24. Indian students are the UK's top international student nationality. UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership (2021) eases circular migration for students and workers.
Canada
NORTH AMERICA
1.7 million Indian-Canadians; fastest-growing South Asian diaspora
Indian-Canadians number 1.7 million and are Canada's largest visible minority group. Punjabis dominate in British Columbia and Ontario — Brampton is India's diaspora capital outside India. Canada receives the highest number of Indian international students (200,000+). Relations strained in 2023 over Nijjar killing; people-to-people ties remain strong. Canada is India's third-largest remittance destination.
Saudi Arabia
WEST ASIA
2.4 million Indians — largest Gulf labour market
Saudi Arabia hosts 2.4 million Indian workers across construction, healthcare, engineering, and domestic services. Annual remittances to India exceed $11 billion. Labour Welfare Agreement governs worker rights. India operates a Madad (helpline) portal for workers in distress. Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage management is a major annual consular operation — India sends the world's second-largest Hajj contingent.
Australia
OCEANIA
700k+ Indian-Australians; fastest-growing migrant community
Indian-Australians number over 700,000 and are Australia's second-largest immigrant group — growing faster than any other. India has been Australia's top source country for permanent migrants since 2021. Indian students (120,000+) are Australia's largest international cohort. Migration and Mobility Partnership (2023) adds 3,000 annual temporary work visas. Cricket and the IPL are major cultural connectors.
Singapore
SOUTH EAST ASIA
350k Indian-Singaporeans; CECA talent mobility
Indian-origin Singaporeans number 350,000 — about 9% of the city-state's population. CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement) includes mobility provisions for Indian professionals. Singapore hosts a significant Indian student population. Little India in Singapore is a heritage and cultural hub. Cultural exchanges through ICCR Singapore are extensive.
Malaysia
SOUTH EAST ASIA
1.9 million Indian-Malaysians; Brickfields and Thaipusam
Indian-Malaysians — descendants of plantation workers brought by the British — number 1.9 million (6% of population). Thaipusam at Batu Caves is among the world's largest Hindu festivals. Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's Little India. Tamil is an official language in Malaysia. India-Malaysia Cultural Cooperation Agreement is active; ICCR presence in Kuala Lumpur.
Qatar
WEST ASIA
700k Indians — construction, healthcare, and services
Qatar hosts approximately 700,000 Indians — the second-largest expat group. Indians dominated the FIFA World Cup 2022 construction workforce. Healthcare, retail, and IT services employ significant Indian workers. Annual remittances exceed $4 billion. Worker welfare framework post-2022 has improved conditions. India consulate in Doha manages one of the world's busiest labour consulates.
Kuwait
WEST ASIA
900k Indians — Gulf's oldest Indian diaspora community
Kuwait hosts around 900,000 Indians — its largest expat group. The Kuwait Indian community is one of the oldest in the Gulf, dating to pre-oil trade. Labour welfare MOU governs worker rights. Annual remittances exceed $4 billion. Operation Ajay and earlier Gulf evacuations were centred on Kuwait-India evacuation logistics. School network for Indian children is extensive.
Oman
WEST ASIA
700k Indians; historic Malabar-Oman trade diaspora
India-Oman people-to-people ties predate the modern state — Kerala's Mappila traders had centuries of commerce with Muscat. Today 700,000 Indians live in Oman across construction, healthcare, and trade. Labour agreement covers worker welfare. Remittances to India exceed $3 billion. Joint cultural events celebrate the shared maritime heritage. Indian school network in Oman is extensive.
Bahrain
WEST ASIA
300k Indians; oldest Gulf community; Pearl Roundabout workers
Bahrain hosts approximately 300,000 Indians — over 20% of the country's population. Bahrain's Indian community is among the oldest in the Gulf. A Labour Welfare Agreement governs worker rights and recruitment. Annual remittances exceed $2 billion. Bahrain-India Cultural Association is active. Indian school network caters to thousands of expat children.
Mauritius
AFRICA
70% Indian-origin population; Pravasi Bharatiya connection
Mauritius has the world's highest proportion of Indian-origin population — around 70%, descendants of indentured labourers who arrived in the 19th century. The Mauritius Prime Minister has repeatedly been Indian-origin. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was first held in Mauritius. Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO heritage site commemorates indenture history. India provides significant scholarships to Mauritian students.
Fiji
OCEANIA
37% Indo-Fijian population; girmit heritage
Indo-Fijians — descendants of indentured labourers (girmit workers) brought by Britain — make up 37% of Fiji's population. The community has faced political instability and discrimination; some emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. India provides development assistance, scholarships, and cultural support. ICCR operations support Hindi and Indian cultural programmes. Fiji Prime Minister has been Indo-Fijian.
Germany
EUROPE
200k Indians; fastest-growing European Indian community
Germany hosts approximately 200,000 Indians — a fast-growing community of IT workers, students, and researchers. Germany is a top destination for Indian engineering and science students. The India-Germany Migration and Mobility Partnership (2023) creates a new pathway for Indian skilled workers under the Chancen-Karte. Germany's IT sector actively recruits in India. ICCR presence in Berlin.
France
EUROPE
Indian students and Pondicherry heritage
France has a growing Indian student community and longstanding cultural ties through Pondicherry — a former French colony where French-influenced Tamil culture thrives. ICCR-Alliance Française exchanges are active. Yoga and Ayurveda diplomacy is strong in France. Indian diaspora in France is concentrated in Paris and Lyon.
Japan
EAST ASIA
Growing Indian tech worker and student presence; deep cultural bonds
Japan actively recruits Indian IT professionals under its Specified Skilled Worker programme and Indian student numbers are growing. Japan-India cultural ties run deep — shared Buddhist heritage (Nalanda, Bodhgaya), the Subhas Chandra Bose-INA connection, and Justice Radhabinod Pal's Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal dissent are touchstones. Japanese anime and Indian audiences overlap. NRI community in Tokyo is expanding rapidly.
Nepal
SOUTH ASIA
Open border; shared culture; 8 million Nepalis in India
India-Nepal is one of the world's most integrated people-to-people relationships. An open border allows free movement — an estimated 8 million Nepalis live and work in India without visas. Gurkha recruitment into the Indian Army is a historic tie. Shared Hindu and Buddhist heritage, Hindi language, and Bollywood make cultural exchange seamless. Indian scholarships for Nepali students are extensive.
Bangladesh
SOUTH ASIA
Deep cultural, linguistic, and historical ties
Bangladesh and India share the Bengali cultural world — Rabindranath Tagore is the national poet of both countries. India was integral to Bangladesh's 1971 liberation. Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis access Indian healthcare annually, making Kolkata and Chennai major medical tourism hubs. Indian scholarships through ITEC and other schemes support thousands of Bangladeshi students.
South Africa
AFRICA
1.3 million Indian-origin South Africans; Gandhi's home
South Africa's Indian-origin community — 1.3 million — arrived as indentured labourers from the 1860s. Mahatma Gandhi developed his philosophy of Satyagraha in South Africa between 1893–1914; the Phoenix Settlement near Durban is a pilgrimage site. Durban is the largest Indian city outside India. India provides ITEC scholarships; cultural ties through ICCR Johannesburg are extensive.
New Zealand
OCEANIA
200k Indian-New Zealanders; booming student arrivals
New Zealand's Indian community has grown rapidly — now over 200,000 and the country's second-largest ethnic group. India is New Zealand's second-largest source of international students. NZ cricket team's India tours generate massive cultural engagement. New Zealand offers post-study work visas attractive to Indian graduates. Cultural exchanges through ICCR Auckland are growing.
Israel
WEST ASIA
Indian agricultural workers; Buddhist pilgrimage connection
Israel relies on thousands of Indian agricultural workers (primarily from Haryana and Telangana) under bilateral labour agreements — a programme that expanded after the 2023 conflict reduced Thai and Palestinian labour availability. India-Israel labour MOU governs recruitment. Jewish community connections and shared interests in Buddhist heritage add cultural dimensions.
Trinidad & Tobago
LATIN AMERICA
37% Indian-origin; Hosay, Divali, and Indo-Caribbean culture
Indians make up 37% of Trinidad's population — descendants of indentured labourers brought from Bihar and UP. Indo-Trinidadian culture has evolved uniquely: chutney music, curry, and a distinct Bhojpuri-influenced creole. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been held in Port of Spain. India provides scholarships and ICCR cultural programming. CARICOM-India dialogue.
Guyana
LATIN AMERICA
39% Indo-Guyanese; President Ali is Indian-origin
Indo-Guyanese form 39% of the population — descendants of indentured labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. President Irfaan Ali is of Indian origin. India and Guyana cooperate through the India-CARICOM framework. Guyana's oil boom makes it an emerging partner. India provides development assistance, ITEC training, and cultural programming.
Suriname
LATIN AMERICA
27% Indo-Surinamese; Phagwa and Divali are national holidays
Hindustani Surinamese — 27% of the population — are descendants of contract labourers from Bihar and UP brought by the Dutch. Phagwa (Holi) and Divali are national public holidays in Suriname. Hindi-derived Sarnami Hindustani language is spoken. India maintains diplomatic and cultural ties; ICCR programming supports heritage preservation.
Ireland
EUROPE
Indian tech workers in Dublin's Silicon Docks
Ireland's 'Silicon Docks' — Dublin's tech hub hosting Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon — has drawn thousands of Indian IT professionals. India is a top source country for Ireland's skilled worker and student visa intake. Indian students in Irish universities are growing. Ireland-India cultural ties are developing; consular services in Dublin are active.
Portugal
EUROPE
Goan heritage; Indian diaspora in Lisbon growing
Portugal and India share the Goa heritage — 451 years of Portuguese rule left a deep imprint on Goan architecture, cuisine, and culture. The Lisbon-based Indian community has grown significantly under Portugal's Golden Visa and D7 visa programmes, attractive to Indian retirees and investors. Goa's St. Francis Xavier basilica draws Portuguese pilgrims. Cultural and heritage exchange is active.
Italy
EUROPE
Indian agricultural workers; growing student community
Italy hosts one of Europe's lesser-known Indian diaspora communities — Punjabi Sikhs who came as agricultural workers in the Po Valley, particularly around Brescia and Cremona. Indian IT professionals are increasingly present in Milan. Indian student numbers in Italian universities are rising. Cultural exchanges through yoga, cuisine, and ICCR Rome.
Spain
EUROPE
Growing Indian community; student and tech worker arrivals
Spain's Indian community is centred in Barcelona and Madrid — primarily traders, IT workers, and students. Barcelona's Indian business community is active in textiles and hospitality. Spain is a growing destination for Indian digital nomads. Cultural exchanges through yoga, Indian cinema (Bollywood shoots in Spain), and ICCR Madrid are developing.
Sweden
EUROPE
Indian tech and pharma professionals in Stockholm
Sweden's Indian community is concentrated in Stockholm — primarily IT professionals at Ericsson, Spotify, and Swedish pharma companies, and researchers at KTH and Karolinska. Indian student intake at Swedish universities is growing. India-Sweden cultural exchange is developing with a focus on music, yoga, and digital arts.
Belgium
EUROPE
Indian diamond traders dominate Antwerp
The Antwerp Diamond District — the world's largest diamond trading hub — is overwhelmingly controlled by Indian traders, primarily from the Jain community of Gujarat's Palanpur. Approximately 80% of the world's rough diamonds and 50% of polished diamonds pass through Indian-Belgian diamond networks. India-Belgium bilateral trade in diamonds is substantial. Indian school and cultural institutions support the community.
Netherlands
EUROPE
Indian tech workers; Surinamese Indian heritage connection
The Netherlands has a unique Indian diaspora connection through the Surinamese Indian community — Hindustani Surinamese who migrated to the Netherlands post-Suriname independence in 1975. Additionally, Indian IT professionals work at ASML, Philips, Shell, and Dutch tech firms. Indian student numbers at TU Delft and other Dutch universities are growing.
Thailand
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Indian tourists; Buddhist pilgrimage circuit
Thailand is India's most popular ASEAN tourism destination — over 1.2 million Indian tourists visit annually. Buddhist connections (Wat Arun, Ayutthaya) and Ramayana links (the Thai Ramayana is called Ramakien) are strong cultural bridges. Indian business community in Bangkok is active. Thai cuisine's Indian-spice heritage creates culinary diplomacy opportunities.
Sri Lanka
SOUTH ASIA
Tamil cultural ties; Indian medical tourists; Buddhist heritage
Sri Lanka and India share deep people-to-people ties — especially through the Tamil community (11% of Sri Lanka's population has Indian-Tamil heritage). Sri Lanka is a major source of Buddhist pilgrims to India's Buddhist circuit. Indians visit Sri Lanka in large numbers; medical tourism flows go both ways. Indian scholarships and ITEC training support thousands of Sri Lankans.
Maldives
SOUTH ASIA
Indian tourists; migrant workers; healthcare access
India is the Maldives' top tourism source market. Indian migrant workers in construction and services are a key labour source. Maldivians rely on India for tertiary healthcare — AIIMS and major Indian hospitals receive Maldivian patients. Indian teachers and civil servants have supported Maldivian institution-building. Visa-free access is mutual.
Bhutan
SOUTH ASIA
Open border; Indian workers; ICCR Thimphu
Bhutan and India have an open border with free movement for citizens of both countries. Indian workers in construction and trade are a significant presence in Bhutan. Bhutan's education system uses Indian textbooks and degrees. Indian scholarships fund hundreds of Bhutanese students annually. Shared Buddhist and Hindu heritage. ICCR Thimphu is active in cultural diplomacy.
Kenya
AFRICA
Indian-Kenyan community; Nairobi's Westlands district
The Indian-Kenyan community — primarily Gujarati traders who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries — number over 100,000 and dominate Nairobi's business sector. Westlands is Nairobi's Indian business hub. Indian schools, temples, and cultural associations are active. India provides ITEC scholarships and development assistance. Bilateral tourism is growing.
Tanzania
AFRICA
Indian-Tanzanian traders; Dar es Salaam bazaar culture
Indian traders — primarily Gujaratis and Ismaili Muslims — have been a cornerstone of Tanzania's commercial sector since the 19th century. The Aga Khan Development Network runs schools and hospitals across Tanzania. Dar es Salaam's markets retain significant Indian-origin merchant families.
Uganda
AFRICA
Indian-Ugandans expelled in 1972; returned and rebuilt
Idi Amin expelled Uganda's 70,000-strong Indian community in 1972; many returned after 1986 under Museveni. The Indian-Ugandan community has rebuilt its position as a commercial cornerstone. Today Uganda's Indian community numbers over 15,000 — owning major industries. This history is taught in India's diaspora engagement — a story of resilience. India provides ITEC training and scholarships.
Russia
EURASIA
Indian medical students; Soviet-era friendship
Thousands of Indian students have studied medicine in Russia (and Soviet universities before it) — Russia remains affordable for Indian medical aspirants. The Soviet-India Friendship Treaty of 1971 created lasting cultural warmth. Bollywood was extremely popular in Soviet Russia; Russian nostalgia for Indian cinema remains strong. ICCR Moscow supports cultural exchanges.
Indonesia
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Ramayana culture; Indian tourist arrivals; Bali connection
Indonesia's Hindu-Buddhist civilisational heritage — Ramayana and Mahabharata are performed across Java and Bali — creates deep cultural resonance with India. Bali is a major tourist destination for Indians. Indian business community in Jakarta is growing. ICCR programming in Jakarta and Denpasar supports cultural exchange. UPI deployment for Indian tourists in Bali is being piloted.
Myanmar
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Indian-Burmese heritage; Buddhist circuit overlap
A large Indian-origin community settled in Burma under British rule; most departed during WWII. Buddhist heritage is shared — Nalanda scholars influenced early Burmese Buddhism. India's Act East Policy includes Myanmar as a connectivity node, but the 2021 coup has constrained people-to-people exchange. Indian medical and educational institutions serve some Burmese nationals.
South Korea
EAST ASIA
K-wave and Indian youth; Ayodhya-Gimhae sister city
South Korea's K-Pop and K-Drama have a massive following in India's northeastern states (Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya). The Ayodhya-Gimhae sister-city relationship celebrates the legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok, said to be an Ayodhya princess who married a Korean king. Indian students in South Korea are growing under government scholarships. Korean companies in India (Samsung, LG, Hyundai) drive professional exchange.
Ukraine
EUROPE
18,000 Indian medical students evacuated in 2022
Ukraine was home to approximately 18,000 Indian medical students before the February 2022 Russian invasion — attracted by affordable MBBS programmes. Operation Ganga evacuated Indian students in one of India's largest evacuation operations. Many students have sought to re-enrol in Indian, European, and Caribbean medical schools. India advocates for diplomatic resolution partly for students' sake.
Hungary
EUROPE
Indian medical students; Stipendium Hungaricum
Hungary hosts several thousand Indian medical students, drawn by lower tuition than UK or Germany. Stipendium Hungaricum offers government scholarships. Hungary's medical schools (Pécs, Debrecen, Semmelweis) are popular with Indian aspirants. Cultural exchange through yoga and ICCR is developing. Bilateral people-to-people ties are nascent but growing.
Romania
EUROPE
Indian medical students; growing student visa corridor
Romania has become a destination for Indian medical and engineering students seeking European qualifications at lower cost than Western Europe. Several thousand Indians study at Romanian universities. The Bucharest Indian community is small but growing. Cultural exchange is limited but developing. Romania's EU membership makes it an attractive student destination.
Egypt
NORTH AFRICA
Al-Azhar Islamic scholarship; ancient civilisation resonance
Egypt and India share the distinction of being among the world's oldest civilisations — a cultural connection invoked at summit level. Indian Muslim students attend Al-Azhar University. Indian tourists visit the pyramids; Bollywood has shot many films in Egypt. Egypt is India's largest trade partner in Africa. The Indian community in Cairo is small but active.
Jordan
WEST ASIA
Indian migrant workers; religious tourism (Petra)
Jordan hosts tens of thousands of Indian migrant workers in construction and services. Petra is a draw for Indian tourists. Jordan's Hashemite Kingdom has historic warmth for India. Indian scholarships and ITEC training support Jordanian students. Cultural exchanges are limited but developing.
Nigeria
AFRICA
Indian business community; Nollywood-Bollywood cultural overlap
Nigeria hosts a small but commercially significant Indian business community — primarily in Lagos, in pharmaceuticals, textiles, and trading. Nollywood and Bollywood share a mass-entertainment cultural DNA that has created organic people-to-people warmth. Indian ITEC scholarships support Nigerian students. Nigeria is a growing destination for Indian pharma exports.
Ghana
AFRICA
Indian business diaspora; ITEC scholarships
Ghana's Indian community — primarily in Accra — is engaged in trade, pharmaceuticals, and construction. Ghana's democratic stability makes it an anchor for India's West Africa engagement. ITEC scholarships support hundreds of Ghanaian students annually. Cultural exchanges through ICCR and yoga diplomacy are growing.
Mozambique
AFRICA
Indian-origin Mozambican traders; ITEC cooperation
Mozambique's Indian-origin community — descendants of Gujarati traders — has been commercially active since the Portuguese colonial era. India provides ITEC training and development assistance. Mozambique's natural gas discoveries have attracted Indian energy company interest. Cultural ties are limited but the historical trading connection is being revived.
Zambia
AFRICA
Indian mining and trading community; ITEC scholarships
Zambia's Indian community is engaged in mining support services, retail, and agriculture. India provides ITEC scholarships and development cooperation. The Zambia-India Business Council facilitates commercial people-to-people ties. Cultural exchanges through ICCR programming are limited but growing.
Ethiopia
AFRICA
Indian IT workers; ITEC training; growing diaspora
Ethiopia's growing tech sector and Indian IT firm presence have created a small but expanding Indian professional community in Addis Ababa. ITEC scholarships train Ethiopian students and professionals in India. India-Ethiopia cultural ties are developing through ICCR and yoga diplomacy. Ethiopia's African Union role makes it a strategic people-to-people connection for India.
Philippines
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Indian business community; OFW-Indian professional overlap
The Philippines hosts an Indian business community in Manila — primarily in IT, BPO, and trade. Indian BPO firms and Filipino BPO firms are simultaneously competitors and partners. Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW) in the Gulf interact with Indian workers in the same labour markets. Cultural exchanges are nascent; yoga and Indian cuisine are gaining ground.
Vietnam
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Indian tourists; Cham Hindu heritage; IT workers
Vietnam's Cham minority has Hindu roots — My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO Hindu temple complex — creating civilisational resonance with India. Indian tourist arrivals are growing. Indian IT professionals are present in Ho Chi Minh City's tech sector. Cultural exchanges through ICCR and yoga are expanding. Vietnam is among the fastest-growing Indian tourism destinations in ASEAN.
Mexico
LATIN AMERICA
Indian student and tech worker presence growing
Mexico hosts a small but growing Indian professional community — primarily IT workers at nearshoring hubs in Guadalajara and Monterrey. Indian students in Mexican universities are modest in number. Cultural exchanges are minimal but growing through yoga, Indian cuisine, and Bollywood's Latin American reach. India-Mexico Friendship Association is active.
Brazil
LATIN AMERICA
IBSA cultural exchange; Indian community in São Paulo
Brazil's Indian community is small — concentrated in São Paulo's business sector. IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) People-to-People Forum covers civil society, women, and youth exchanges. Brazilian yoga and Ayurveda communities are large and enthusiastic. Bollywood and Indian culture have devoted Brazilian followings. India-Brazil cultural centre in São Paulo is developing.
Jamaica
LATIN AMERICA
Indo-Jamaican heritage; Phagwa and curry culture
Indo-Jamaicans — descendants of indentured labourers who arrived 1838–1917 — form about 1.5% of Jamaica's population, but their cultural contribution is outsized. Phagwa (Holi), roti, and curry are part of Jamaican mainstream culture. Jamaica's CARICOM membership links it to India's Caribbean engagement. ITEC scholarships support Jamaican students.
Argentina
LATIN AMERICA
Small but growing Indian community; yoga and Ayurveda
Argentina has a small Indian community — primarily in Buenos Aires — engaged in trade and IT. Argentina's large yoga and Ayurveda following creates cultural diplomacy opportunities. ICCR Buenos Aires is active. G20 meetings have brought Indian and Argentine officials into regular contact.