This article covers cultural links, youth exchanges, scholarships and training for Palestinians in India, and the Indian community in Palestine, based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of July 2026. It also gives the contact details of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in New Delhi, as recorded in the MEA Protocol Division register read on 24 September 2026.

Cultural activities

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, Indian arts and culture, especially Indian movies, "enjoy immense popularity in Palestine". In 2014, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Garden of Nations in Ramallah. In 2015, an exhibition of paintings of Islamic Monuments in India and a food festival were organised in Ramallah.

International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations have been held since 2015, which the brief says have had immense popular support and participation. As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Representative Office of India organised several cultural activities, including film screenings and photo exhibitions, in various Palestinian cities.

An Indian Cultural Week was organised by the Indian Mission in association with ICCR and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture in November 2021. The week-long event covered the cities of Bethlehem, Jericho, Nablus and Ramallah.

Youth exchange

The India-Palestine Youth Exchange Programme was started in 2017. A 50-member Palestinian youth delegation visited India in May 2017, followed by a 29-member Indian youth delegation visiting Palestine in September 2017. During the Prime Minister's visit in February 2018, it was announced that from 2018, 100-member youth delegations would visit New Delhi and Ramallah.

Scholarships for Palestinian students

India provides 35 ICCR scholarships for Palestinian students annually for Graduate, Post-Graduate and Ph.D courses in India. As of the brief, over 170 students have availed scholarships in fields such as computer engineering, mechanical engineering and management, at Delhi university, Gujarat Technical university, IITs and other premier universities.

Palestinian students can also avail of:

  • ICCR scholarships under the Scholarship Scheme for Indian Art & Culture
  • Graduate, Post-graduate and Ph.D courses under the AYUSH Scholarship Scheme, to study the Indian Traditional Medical System, such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH)

Training under ITEC

As of the brief, 168 slots are offered to Palestine annually under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) for training courses in India. The courses are aimed at capacity building and skill enhancement in disciplines such as Information Technology, Public Administration, Proficiency in English Language, Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, Renewable Energy, Cyber Technology, Quality Management, and Health & Yoga.

More than 1300 Palestinian nationals have availed ITEC training in India.

The Indian community

The brief describes the Indian diaspora in Palestine as very small, with only 7 Indian passport holders and 2 OCI card holders living in the territories of Palestine.

Embassy of the State of Palestine in New Delhi

The register gives the following contact details:

  • Address: EP-29 B, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021
  • Telephone: +91-11-24108062, 24108063
  • Email: embassy71@gmail.com

The register lists no website for the Embassy. The head of mission, as listed in the register, is H.E. Mr. Abdullah M.A. Abushawesh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Consulates and national day

The register lists no consulates or honorary consulates of Palestine elsewhere in India, so the Embassy in New Delhi is the point of contact. The national day of Palestine is 15 November (Declaration of Independence).

India's office in Palestine

According to the brief, India opened its Representative Office in Gaza in 1996, and the office was later shifted to Ramallah in 2003. The brief lists the office's website as www.roiramallah.gov.in.

Visas and honorary consuls

The brief contains no information on visas. Travellers should check current requirements with the Embassy before travelling.

Honorary consuls have limited powers compared with an embassy. Palestine has no honorary consulates listed in India, and all requirements should be confirmed with the Embassy of the State of Palestine in New Delhi.