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Secretary (CPV & OIA) Shri Muktesh K. Pardeshi addressed the Valedictory Session of the 70th edition of the Know India Programme (KIP) today at a function held at Ministry of External Affairs. The 70th Know India Programme, held from 11 - 29 December 2023, welcomed 34 participants from Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Colombia.

2. The Know India Programme has reached a significant milestone of 20 years, making it one of the longest running diaspora engagement programmes of Government of India. The Programme was launched in 2003, with the primary objective of fostering closer connections between Indian diaspora youth and their ancestral homeland. The three week programme provides diaspora youth exposure to India’s history and cultural heritage, along with growth and development of modern India.

3. In 20 years, 2513 PIO youth from 53 countries have participated in various KIP editions, with large participation from diaspora in South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Myanmar, Australia, Israel, France, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Reunion Island, Sri Lanka, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States of America.

4. The Know India Programme is open to Persons of Indian Origin (21-35 years) from all the countries, with preference given to youth from Girmitiya countries. The selected participants are provided with return air tickets (with participants bearing 10% of the cost of airfare), and local hospitality including boarding/lodging and transportation, as part of the Programme.

5. Some of the key elements of the Programme include visits to places of historical and cultural importance; familiarisation with Yoga, Ayurveda, and classical forms of Music and Dance; visit to institutions of democracy and governance like Parliament of India, Election Commission of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan; interaction with leading educational institutions; exposure to flagship economic and development schemes like Digital India, StartUp India, and Make in India; and visits to industrial sites, public and private firms to highlight India’s strength in Manufacturing & Service sector.

6. The 71st Know India Programme will be organised from 03-19 January 2024.

New Delhi
December 29, 2023