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Know India Programme completes 20 years
The KIP is accessible to PIO (aged 21-35) from all countries, with a preference for youth from Girmitiya countries.
KIP participants / X/@MEAIndia
As one of the longest-running diaspora engagement initiatives of the Government of India, the Know India Programme has completed 20 years.
Launched in 2003, the program aims to strengthen the bond between Indian diaspora youth and their ancestral homeland. Over the course of three weeks, participants gain exposure to India's rich history, cultural heritage, and the contemporary growth and development of the nation.
Since its inception, a total of 2,513 People of Indian Origin (PIO) youth from 53 countries have actively participated in various editions of the Know India Programme (KIP). Notably, there has been significant engagement from the diaspora in several countries, including South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Myanmar, Australia, USA and more.
Participants in the KIP can be young adults (21–35 years old) from any country, although those from the Girmitiya region (Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana) will receive special consideration. Those selected to participate in the program receive return air tickets (with participants covering 10 percent of the airfare cost) and local hospitality, including boarding, lodging, and transportation, as integral components of the programme.
Some of the important parts of the KIP include going to places with a lot of history and culture, learning about traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), classical music and dance, and touring important government buildings like Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Indian Parliament, and the Election Commission of India.
Participants also have the opportunity to network with top universities, learn about India's economic and development programs like Digital India, StartUp India, and Make in India, and see firsthand the public and private companies and industrial sites that contribute to India's manufacturing and service strengths.
The 70th edition of the KIP, conducted from December 11 to 29, 2023, welcomed 34 participants hailing from Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Colombia. The upcoming 71st KIP is scheduled to take place from January 3 to 19, 2024.
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