This article covers the cultural, educational and people-to-people links between India and the United States: cultural programmes, the return of antiquities, academic cooperation, Indian students in the US and the Indian diaspora. It uses only the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of February 2026.
Cultural cooperation
According to the MEA brief of February 2026, there are India-focused educational programmes in US universities and educational institutions. The Indian Embassy and Consulates in the US organise cultural events presenting different aspects of Indian culture, and artists and technical experts from both countries train in each other's institutions.
Programmes on Indian cultural heritage and festivals, and initiatives such as the International Day of Yoga, World Hindi Diwas, Gandhi Jayanti and Ayurveda day, are organised from time to time with the participation of the Indian diaspora and friends of India. Indian diaspora cultural organisations promote Indian culture, especially among the younger generation. The brief also notes that Indian institutions are collaborating to promote Ayurveda.
Return of antiquities
India and the US signed their first ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' in July 2024 in New Delhi, to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities.
On the sidelines of the India-U.S. bilateral meeting at Delaware on 21 September 2024, the US side handed over to the Prime Minister a few pieces of antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India. The US repatriated a total of 297 such antiquities to India in 2024. As of the brief, the total number of cultural artefacts returned from the US to India since 2016 stands at 578.
Education partnership
The brief describes education as an important pillar of India-US ties, with strong linkages and a history of higher education collaborations. Under the Fulbright-Nehru bi-national Program, both countries support Fulbright-Nehru scholarships and grants to US and Indian scholars, professionals and students.
The India-US Working Group on Education and Skill Development (WGESD) was launched in May 2023. It focuses on skilling and vocational education, certification and recognition, matchmaking between higher educational institutions, and engagement with the private sector. Subcommittees on the following were launched in February 2024:
- Linkages in higher education
- Leveraging Private Sector
- Skilling and Vocational Training
- Certification and Recognition
University links
In September 2023, the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT Council) and the Association of American Universities (AAU) signed an MOU to establish the India-US Global Challenges Institute. It will bring together research and higher-education institutions for collaboration in:
- sustainable energy and agriculture
- health and pandemic preparedness
- semiconductor technology and manufacturing
- advanced materials
- telecommunications
- artificial intelligence
- quantum science
The brief states that academic collaboration includes joint research, faculty and student exchange programmes, joint degree programmes and other activities, with multi-institutional partnerships in critical and emerging technologies. IIT Bombay joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange as an international partner, and several IITs have ongoing academic research partnerships with universities in the US.
Indian students in the US
The brief describes the US as one of the favoured destinations of Indian students for higher education. As of January 2025, there are about 300,000 Indian students in the US, mostly in graduate (Masters) programmes in STEM fields.
The Indian diaspora
About 5.4 million Indian Americans and people of Indian origin reside in the US, according to MEA data cited in the brief; this includes around 2.07 million NRIs. Persons of Indian origin constitute the third largest Asian ethnic group in the US.
There are many Indian American community organisations and professional organisations of Indian Americans. The brief states that Indian Americans excel in diverse fields, including politics, and that there are six persons of Indian origin in the US Congress. It describes the Indian diaspora as a catalyst in cementing closer ties between India and the US.