In an era defined by geopolitical flux and rapid technological change, the metrics of international influence are being rewritten. A profound, enduring form of capital is built in the classrooms, cultural venues, and community libraries. For over seventy-seven years, the British Council has nurtured connections in India based on trust, respect and understanding. As India’s demographic dividend and knowledge economy reach an inflection point, the British Council’s work, detailed in its latest India Impact Report, offers a compelling case study of bringing people closer.
Reaching 29,000 youth and 137 faculty in Karnataka alone, the programme’s inclusion in a NITI Aayog policy report underscores its practical policy relevance. Following the success of phase one, British Council and Microsoft inked a three-year partnership in January 2026 with Government of Karnataka to expand the ongoing English Skills for Youth across 54 institutions, reaching 9,500 students through the English Practice Clubs.
Similarly, the innovative Premier League Primary Stars initiative with the British Council leverages the universal appeal of sport to create engaging learning environments, having supported over 7,500 educators across 18 states since 2007.
Here, English is framed as a functional skill for social and economic participation. This systemic approach to upskilling is further strengthened by teacher-led research through the ARMS project. Launched in 2024, ARMS awarded grants to three Indian institutions, supporting around 70 mentors and mentees engaged in classroom-based research on English language teaching.
The New Landscapes India grant, for instance, facilitated the first-ever Indian apparel sector delegation to the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, connecting Indian sustainable fashion directly with global industry leaders and unlocking new business pathways. Similarly, initiatives like Wales in India Year (2024) at 25th Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival go beyond celebration, creating new artistic dialogues that reach tens of thousands while deepening people-to-people ties. Connects made here thrive beyond the festival week – for instance, Welsh folk musicians Mari Mathias and Seyievinuo Chüzho continued to collaborate, keeping the connections alive beyond the hornbill festival, including joint performances at the Nehru Centre in London, the Bluestone Brewery in Newport and the Tafwyl Festival in Cardiff.
These initiatives reinforce the idea that cultural relations stimulate growth and foster deeper, nuanced bilateral understanding. The British Council’s commitment extends to literary bridges, supporting platforms like JLF London, supporting Indian literary talent such as author Banu Mushtaq and literary translator and writer, Deepa Bhashti, whose ‘Heart Lamp’ became the first Kannada title and first short story collection to win International Booker Prize 2025.
Of particular significance is the installation of British Council corners and digital library walls in 5,000 rural libraries across Karnataka, a direct partnership with state libraries that brings free, high-quality resources to an estimated five million learners. The success and potential scalability of the Karnataka model opens up scope for adaptation to other states.
Policy advocacy is a critical strand of the British Council’s work in India for mutual, value‑based partnerships in education and the creative economy. A case in point is the policy and delivery around International Branch Campuses (IBCs), mutual recognition of standards in India – all of which align with NEP 2020 and Viksit Bharat 2047.
In parallel, the India–UK education partnership moved to a higher trajectory in October 2025 with the unveiling of Vision 2035 – with Education as a strategic pillar that resonates with the UK’s International Education Strategy, which mentions India – with the British Council as a key partner in its delivery.
The British Council’s work in India, while being locally relevant, aligns closely with broader bilateral frameworks like the UK-India Vision 2035 and the Programme of Cultural Cooperation.
As India continues its ascent on the global stage, the need for institutions that can facilitate genuine understanding and capability-building will intensify. The British Council’s seven-decade journey suggests that the most strategic investments in an uncertain world are those made in people. By continuing to adapt its partnership model to India’s evolving priorities, British Council demonstrates that trust, once built, becomes one of the most durable frameworks for shaping a shared future in a fragmented global landscape. https://www.britishcouncil.in/
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First Published: Feb 20, 2026, 17:50
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