India

India

India mainly sits on a vast peninsula in Southern Asia, surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. In the north, it borders countries including Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and China. Its diverse geography includes a plateau region to the south, flat-to-rolling plains along the Ganges river, and the Himalayan mountain range to the north.

Secretariat support for India 

Public Sector Governance

The Secretariat hosted an Advanced Online Training in Government Performance Management for Asia in February 2021, covering key aspects of performance management. The training was primarily aimed at senior Government officials and focused on design and implementation of performance management systems that contribute to more effective government.  The regional online training was attended by 12 officials from India. 

The training provided an overview of the knowledge and skills required to design and implement systems to improve government performance, and on the necessary training resources. The course also offered practical tools and techniques to improve systems of performance management in government, focusing on developing a results-based performance management system and equipping participants with knowledge and expertise in using Strategic Management and Accountability for Results (SMART), a proprietary software developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat.   

Public Sector Governance

Countering violent extremism 

The Secretariat helped India share best practice on how to involve young people in preventing violent extremism and building strong communities. Officials from local government, civil society and non-governmental organisations took part in the training. 

Countering violent extremism work

Youth 

India’s Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development used the Commonwealth’s Youth Mainstreaming Guide to help it with planning. In June 2018, the Commonwealth helped the institute develop a youth work qualification.

The Secretariat helped India set up youth workers’ associations using its 12-step guide. 

Senior officials from India worked with the Secretariat to develop plans to encourage young people to set up businesses. 

Youth work

Health 

The Secretariat engaged with India’s National Health Agency to share experience on setting up health insurance for people living in poverty. 

Health work

Debt management 

5 debt managers from India were trained on the Commonwealth Secretariat's new debt management system, Meridian. 

Debt management work

Connectivity Agenda

India is a member of the Regulatory Connectivity cluster of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. The Connectivity Agenda is a platform for countries to exchange best practices and experiences to trade and investment and undertake domestic reform.

Connectivity Agenda 

India in the Commonwealth 

India’s Kamalesh Sharma became Commonwealth Secretary-General in 2008. In 2012, the Commonwealth of Learning appointed Professor Asha Kanwar as its President and Chief Executive Officer. 

12 Indians have been regional winners in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, while 3 have taken the Best Book or Best First Book awards. 

In 1993, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative established its HQ in New Delhi. 

Find out more 

Learn more about the Secretariat's work

Total population

Key Facts

Population
1.38 billion (2022)
Area
3,166,391 square kilometres
Capital city
New Delhi
Joined the Commonwealth
1947, following independence from Britain