Italian Cultural Centre halts language courses after MEA directive, weeks after hosting event with historian Romila Thapar

The Italian Cultural Centre (ICC) has suspended registrations and postponed its language courses after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued fresh directives on the functioning of cultural centres in India, a TOI report stated. In a notice to students, the centre said, "This is to inform you that registration for our language courses is temporarily suspended, and the start of the courses will be postponed to Sept. This change is due to new directives recently shared by the ministry of external affairs, govt of India, regarding the operations of cultural centres."

It added that the revised date would be shared soon and that the centre was "currently awaiting further updates to proceed in accordance with these guidelines."

ICC and its cultural role in Delhi


The ICC is among several foreign cultural institutes in Delhi that promote their national languages and cultural heritage. Alongside Alliance Française of France, Max Mueller Bhavan of Germany, and the Korean Cultural Centre, it offers language training, art exhibitions, film screenings, food festivals, and talks.

Each of these centres also runs a canteen serving traditional cuisine, which makes them popular cultural and culinary destinations for Delhi residents.

MEA guidelines and Vienna Convention

While the MEA has not issued an official statement, official sources confirmed that guidelines were circulated to all foreign missions regarding compliance with the Vienna Convention on cultural centres.

"If there is any commercial basis in running the centre, then it must comply with relevant guidelines. Article 42 of the Vienna Convention prohibits diplomatic agents from conducting any commercial activity," the sources said.

Other centres unaffected

A check with other cultural centres in Delhi showed that classes were continuing as usual. Both Alliance Française and Max Mueller Bhavan confirmed there had been no suspension of their courses.

Before the suspension, the ICC had hosted ‘Beyond Boundaries’ on July 28 at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum Auditorium. The event featured historian Romila Thapar and art historian Naman Ahuja in conversation on ‘Ancient Rome and the Indian Peninsula’.