Consulate General of India in Los Angeles Invites Applications for 88th Know India Programme

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Consulate General of India, Los Angeles, has officially opened applications for the 88th edition of the Know India Programme (KIP). Administered by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this flagship diaspora engagement initiative is designed to strengthen the connection between young members of the Indian diaspora and their ancestral homeland.

The upcoming 88th edition will run from August 16 to August 29, 2026. Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, this specific iteration is exclusively tailored for a “Young Professionals cohort” aged 24 to 28 years. To ensure a highly interactive and qualitative experience, the two-week program is strictly limited to 25 selected participants.

Eligibility and Core Program Components
Applications are invited from Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) within the specified age bracket. The selection committee will give primary preference to qualified applicants who have not previously visited India.

Over the course of the intensive two-week itinerary, participants will gain direct, first-hand exposure to India’s contemporary socio-economic transformation across three core areas:

1. Democratic Governance and Public Policy
Participants will visit foundational democratic institutions, including the Parliament of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan (the Presidential Palace), and the Election Commission of India. The schedule also includes high-level briefings and interactive sessions with senior government dignitaries and policymakers.

2. Digital Infrastructure and Techno-Economic Innovation
The cohort will study India’s achievements in pioneering Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the India Stack. The itinerary features guided site visits to premier universities, research institutions, industrial manufacturing facilities, and thriving startup hubs backed by national initiatives like Startup India, Digital India, and Skill India.

3. Cultural and Regional Diversity
To experience India’s linguistic and regional plurality, the young professionals will travel to one or more partner States or Union Territories to engage directly with local youth leaders, entrepreneurs, and communities. The cultural itinerary includes visits to historical monuments, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and premier Yoga and Ayurveda institutions.

Leadership Perspectives on Diaspora Engagement
Highlighting the long-term impact of the initiative, the Consul General of India in Los Angeles, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, shared insights from his extensive diplomatic career:

“Having interacted with Indian diaspora communities across Southern Africa and the Caribbean, one consistent observation is that the Know India Programme is among the Government of India’s most successful diaspora engagement initiatives. Participants return with a deeper appreciation of contemporary India—an India that is innovative, confident, technologically advanced, and globally engaged, while remaining firmly rooted in its civilisational values.”

Dr. Srinivasa noted that while many young diaspora members arrive with an understanding of India shaped largely by ancestral family narratives, they depart with a grounded, experiential understanding of the nation’s economic dynamism and development journey.

Looking toward the future, Dr. Srinivasa emphasized the importance of evolving the program into a continuous engagement model to support national development goals:

“Going forward, the programme could be further strengthened through structured alumni engagement, mentorship, digital networking platforms, internships with Indian institutions, innovation partnerships, and periodic regional reunions. Such sustained engagement would further reinforce the Government of India’s objective of transforming the global Indian diaspora into an enduring partner in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047.”

First launched during the 2003–04 fiscal year, the Know India Programme continues to serve as a vital institutional bridge, transforming young diaspora professionals into long-term goodwill ambassadors for India on the global stage. Eligible candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through the official consular channels.