This article covers cultural, educational and people-to-people links between India and Czechia (the Czech Republic): the study of Indian languages in Prague, Indian students and university agreements, the India Corners, tourism, recent cultural events and the Indian community. It relies only on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.
Indology
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, Indology has a very old tradition in Prague, starting with the establishment of a Chair in Sanskrit at Charles University in the 1850s. Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali and Tamil are currently taught at the university.
Students and university cooperation
Czech educational institutions, particularly technical universities and medical colleges, work with their Indian counterparts through exchange programmes. There are about 1500 Indian students studying medicine, engineering, life sciences and physical sciences in various Czech universities.
The brief records these recent contacts between the Embassy of India and Czech universities:
- On 17 September 2025, the Ambassador met Rector Michael Kohajda of Palacký University Olomouc and visited the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute CATRIN, the Department of Biophysics and other research institutions there. A Letter of Intent for Strategic Cooperation between the Embassy of India and Palacký University followed on 27 January 2026.
- In December 2025, the Ambassador met Rector Milena Králíčková of Charles University to advance academic cooperation.
- In February 2026, the Ambassador met Vice Rector Renata Tomášková of the University of Ostrava and Igor Ivan, Rector of VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, to discuss increasing Indian student enrolment and research and industry-academia cooperation.
- On 8 April 2026, a Letter of Intent for Strategic Cooperation was signed between the Embassy of India and the Technical University of Ostrava to cooperate in higher education.
India Corners
The Mission has set up five "India Corners", dedicated sections in libraries and educational institutions to promote Indian culture, literature and heritage:
- the first at Palacký University Olomouc and the second at the International School of Brno, both in September 2025
- the third at the Ostrava Expat Centre
- the fourth at Charles University, in December 2025
- the fifth at the University of Ostrava, in February 2026
Tourism promotion
The Embassy has promoted tourism to India through several events, listed below. Figures for tourist travel between the two countries are given in this guide's practical article.
- On 28 November 2025, the Embassy of India in Prague, with the Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents in the Czech Republic (ACCKA), organised a Tourism Roadshow.
- The Ministry of Tourism and the Embassy took part in the 34th Annual Holiday World & Region World in Prague from 12-14 March 2026. The largest ever Incredible India Pavilion was inaugurated by Mr. Filip Endal, Deputy Minister at the Czech Ministry of Regional Development, and the Ambassador of India. The India Tourism Pavilion was awarded third place for "Most Impressive Exposition".
- In March 2026, the Embassy ran Incredible India advertisements on the Prague tram network, showcasing Gujarat, Rajasthan and Ladakh.
Cultural events
The Embassy celebrates traditional Indian festivals and Government initiatives. Events listed in the brief include:
- four yoga workshops in Brno, Prague and Karlovy Vary in 2024, with Yoga in Daily Life, ISHA Foundation and the Indian diaspora
- Bharat Week from 2-6 September 2024, organised with the Indian community and friends of India
- "Experience India", an annual Indian street festival, on 04 September 2024
- a talk titled "Beyond Earth: India's Space Odyssey" at the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU) on 5 September 2024
- a Bollywood Dance Workshop and a Garba dance session in October 2024
- a seminar on "Ayurveda Innovation for Global Health" on 29 October 2024, for Ayurveda Day
- the 11th edition of International Day of Yoga in 2025, celebrated in front of Prague Castle
- participation by a cultural delegation from Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan in the 30th Karlovy Vary International Folk Dance Festival from 4-7 September 2025
- the 10th Ayurveda Day on 23 September 2025, themed "Ayurveda for People and Planet"
- a Viksit Bharat Run of 5.2 km at Ladronka Park in Prague on 28 September 2025
- the 22nd Prague Indian Film Festival, inaugurated by the Ambassador on 30 October 2025
- commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of Vande Mataram and of Jan Jatiya Gaurav Varsh on 7 November 2025
- the 3rd edition of "Namaste Czechia" for Indian students on 21 November 2025
- the Vande Mataram Badminton Tournament 2025 on 1 December 2025, with the Czechia Tamil Sangam
- Geeta Mahotsava on 17 December 2025 in Prague, with the Nitai Navadvipacandra Mandir ISKON Temple
- World Hindi Divas on 09 January 2026
- International Women's Day on 6 March 2026, with the Indian Women Association of the Czech Republic (IWA) and a "Sarees & Stories" fashion show
- a musical evening with Santoor maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori on 11 May 2026, hosted by Sahaja Yoga with the Embassy's support
- the 165th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, marked at the Chancery with the Indian community on 17 May 2026
The Indian community
As of the brief, approximately 10000 Indian nationals, mostly IT professionals, business personnel and students, reside in the Czech Republic. In addition to registered Indian associations, several informal associations of Indians and people of Indian origin organise community events in association with the Embassy.