Indonesia and India are amongst few countries which share so much commonalities in their size, diverse societies, large populations, historical experience which suggest much similarity.

Cultural linkages between India and Indonesia date back to the early centuries of the Christian era. Signifying their ancient cultural relations, the two countries signed a Cultural Agreement as early as 1955, which has acted as the central guideline for bilateral cultural interaction. The cultural agreement has been updated regularly through the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP), which has facilitated inter-institutional linkages and collaborative research programmes between the two countries. Much of the cultural activities are either sponsored or undertaken by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), which oversees India’s cultural relations with other countries.

The Indian government set up the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Culture Centre (JNICC) in Jakarta in 1989 to conduct cultural activities in Indonesia. Indian films have a large viewership in Indonesia and they are regularly telecast, dubbed in Bahasa Indonesia. During Yudhoyono’s visit, the two countries agreed to establish an Indonesia-India Friendship Association (IIFA), based in New Delhi and Jakarta. Comprising of community leaders from the two countries, the IIFA will aim to forge greater people-to-people cultural linkages. ICCR through its education programmes and scholarships provide an institutional support system for cooperation in human resources development. While experts and officials have received training and scholarship under ITEC programmes and the Colombo Plan, Indonesian students have received scholarships to study in India under the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme and Hindi Scholarship programmes.