The India – Central Asia Foundation (ICAF)

1. About the ICAF

1.1 The India-Central Asia Foundation (ICAF) was formed on March 1, 2005 as a registered Society in New Delhi (Registration Number S/51900/2005, under the Societies Registration Act. (XXI) Of 1860). Contributions to ICAF have been notified for 100% deductions from Taxable Income under section 80 (G) of the Income tax Act, 1961. It is also registered under section 12(A) of the Income tax act. It is a Track II initiative to advance the common interest between India and Central Asia; the enclosed brochure gives additional information of relevance. ICAF has already established good contacts with prominent research/academic institutions and distinguished scholars in Central Asia.

1.2 It is now increasingly recognized that the importance of Central Asia to India is multi-spectral: civilisational, historical, geopolitical and economic. And, the area invites fresh and focused studies to advance mutual interests and understanding.

1.3 Central Asia is emerging as an area rich in strategic, economic and trade terms. Its historical and cultural linkages with India would, of course, continue to be of abiding interest. But awareness of and sensitivity to contemporary events in Central Asia are of higher importance in promoting common interests.

1.4 Central Asian countries, uniformly, display unique warmth towards India and a desire for a significant increase in bilateral interactions. In their perception, India is a welcome and benign neighbour. These countries also have a desire to learn from India’s developmental experience in pluralist politics and post-1991 economics.

1.5 India’s interests in Central Asia deserve to be effectively advanced by diversifying from cooperation in education and culture to high technology interactions and enhanced business transactions. And, there is a firm need to provide professional and timely research advisories for Indian and Central Asian entrepreneurs on the new pathways and markets in Central Asia, Eurasia and the world at large. Against this background, there is clear and present need for creation of a non-governmental entity to fill this gap.

2. Governing Body

2 The Governing Body (GB) for the period 2026 – 29 was formed at the time of the Annual General Body Meeting held at the India International Centre, New Delhi on December 13, 2025 at 1200 h.

2.1 The GB has the following composition as of 31 March 2026:

3. International Cooperation

ICAF has signed “Agreement on Research Cooperation” with the following Institutes, Universities and Centres:

• Centre for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
• Institute of Oriental Studies, Ministry of Education and Sciences, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, Kazakhstan
• Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, Moscow, Russia
• Diplomatic Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
• Institute of History under the President of the Republic of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Kolkata
• Academy of Sciences, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Research cooperation on mutually agreed topics are promoted through various methods, including:

1. holding of regular and structured dialogues/seminars
2. exchange of research scholars and faculty
3. joint research projects and publications
4. exchange of research publications.