Foreign missions get a reminder from MEA, ‘commercial activities' not exempt from tax
Subsequent to the notice, the cultural centre operated by the Italian Embassy in New Delhi has delayed the start of its language courses and suspended payments for membership as it 'awaits' updated guidelines from the local authorities.
New Delhi: A number of foreign missions operating cultural centres in India recently received a reminder from the Ministry of External Affairs that 'commercial activities' are not exempt from taxation under the laws of the land.
A notice on the website of the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre (IIC) says, 'Please be advised that all membership payments are temporarily suspended until further notice. This decision has been made as we await updated guidelines from the local authorities regarding our operations.'
Further, it also delayed the start date of its language courses to mid-September. The IIC is one of a number of cultural centres active in New Delhi.
In recent years, foreign missions in India have begun focusing on increasing their cultural footprint in the city, along with popularising their cuisines. The Korean Cultural Centre runs Dal-Grak, a popular Korean restaurant, while the Alliance Française, the Indo-French cultural centre, runs Cafe Bistro Français.
The Ethiopian Cultural Centre reopened last year, and also has a restaurant on its premises. The Goethe-Institut is Germany's cultural institution operating language courses in India. Spain runs the Instituto Cervantes, teaching Indians Spanish.
The IIC, apart from language courses, also has an Italian restaurant, Diva, on its premises. The Italian centre further runs a library with over 8,000 books and conducts a number of cultural events weekly for its members.
The promotion of cultural linkages is supported under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as well as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. If any foreign mission wishes to open a cultural section on its premises, it must be declared by the country and accepted by the host nation, in this case India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) operates a number of cultural centres abroad. Since at least 1950, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has been active in promoting Indian cultural activities abroad.
The ICCR operates over 30 cultural centres abroad, according to its website. Its aims include to establish, revive and strengthen the cultural relations between India and other countries, and to promote cultural exchanges. The MEA assumed both operational and administrative jurisdiction of the ICCR in 1970 from the Ministry of Education.
Cultural centres have also come to represent their countries locally. Last year, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka was vandalised and torched by protesters during the anti-government protests. The protests eventually led to the resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi. Hasina was accused by her detractors of being too close to India.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: House panel suggests coordination committee to help India's soft power projection, cultural diplomacy
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