This article covers education, training, culture and people-to-people links between India and Lesotho, and the Indian community living in Lesotho. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, and scholarship, training and community figures are as given in that brief.

Scholarships and training

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, 35 ICCR scholarships were offered to Lesotho nationals for the Financial Year 2025-26, and all were utilised. ICCR scholarships for Lesotho nationals have since been increased from 35 to 40.

Under the ITEC programme, 70 slots were offered to Lesotho for the Financial Year 2025-26, of which 51 seats were utilised. Among them, 08 participants from Lesotho attended the Special Training Programme For Yoga Trainers, organised by Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, from 05-31 January 2026.

Vocational training and technical assistance

In 2010, India provided an LOC of US$ 4.7 million for setting up Vocational Training Centres in Lesotho. The project was completed in 2024.

The brief also records training in specific sectors. A number of officials of the Lesotho Defence Forces (LDF) have been trained in Indian defence training establishments, and the Indian Ministry of Textiles sent a team of experts to assess Lesotho's training needs in the textile sector.

Technical assistance has also been provided to Lesotho's institutions. A two-member delegation from the Election Commission of India visited Lesotho on 29-31 January 2015 to provide technical assistance in different aspects of election management to the Independent Electoral Commission of Lesotho.

Information technology education

An India-Lesotho Centre for Advanced Education in Information Technology was set up by India at Lerotholi Polytechnic, Maseru, on 29 November 2017. The brief describes it as a fully funded Government of India project.

Minister of Education and Training Dr. Ntoi Rapapa, MP, accompanied by Deputy Principal Secretary Mr. Ratsiu Majara, visited India in connection with the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon, held in Greater Noida from 22-25 November 2022. On 3 June 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Ms Matsepo Molise Ramakoae was conferred an 'Honoris Causa' degree by G.D. Goenka University in India, later during the same visit in which she met EAM.

Visits and media exchanges

His Majesty King Letsie III and his family made a private visit to India from 27 December 2017 to 2 January 2018. A familiarisation visit for journalists from the East and Southern Africa region was organised by the MEA's XPD Division from 12-18 December 2024. Two journalists from Lesotho took part.

International Day of Yoga

The International Day of Yoga 2025 was celebrated at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru on 15 June. According to the brief, more than 400 people attended, including people of various nationalities, students, yoga practitioners and members of the Indian community.

The Minister of Labour & Employment, H.E. Tseliso Mokhsi, attended as Chief Guest. The brief records that he highlighted the importance of yoga in daily life and described it as an ancient gift of India to the world. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries and Departments also attended.

The Indian community

There are about 4000 Indian expatriates and PIOs in Lesotho, working as teachers, accountants and other professionals, and some are engaged in business. The brief describes the community as having a reasonably high economic profile in the country.

There is an Indian Association, which organises periodic functions and has hosted several cultural events performed by ICCR troupes. Consular services available to Indian nationals living in Lesotho are covered in the practical article of this guide.