About ICWA
- The Indian Council of World Affairs was established in 1943 by a group of Indian intellectuals as a think tank.
- It was registered as a non-official, non-political and non-profit organisation under the Registration of Societies Act 1860
- By an Act of Parliament in 2001, the Indian Council of World Affairs has been declared an institution of national importance.
- The Vice President of India is the ex-officio President of ICWA.
- It is devoted exclusively for the study of international relations and foreign affairs.
- Historic international conferences like ‘Asian Relations Conference‘ in 1947 under the leadership of freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu and ‘United Nations and the New World Order‘ in 1994 have been held by this think tank.
- The Objects of the Council : The Indian Council of World Affairs Act, 2001 lays down the objectives of the ICWA. Section 13 of the Act lists the objectives as :
- To promote the study of Indian and international affairs so as to develop a body of informed opinion on international matters.
- To promote India’s relations with other countries through study, research, discussions, lectures, exchange of ideas and information with other organisations within and outside India engaged in similar activities.
- To serve as a clearing house of information and knowledge regarding world affairs.
- To publish books, periodicals, journals, reviews, papers, pamphlets and other literature on subjects covered under clauses (a) & (b).
- To establish contacts with organisations promoting objects mentioned in this section.
- To arrange conferences and seminars to discuss and study the Indian policy towards international affairs.
- To undertake such other activities for the promotion of ideas and attainment of the above-mentioned objects.