Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU)

What is it?

Initially Setup in 1949, it is a governmental body functioning under the Department of Secondary and Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

A permanent Commission was established in 1951.

The objective of the Commission is to advise the Government in matters relating to the UNESCO.

The Constitution of the UNESCO mandates each member to form a national commission to function as agencies of liaison between the national government and UNESCO.

 Composition:

• The Minister for Human Resource Development is the President of the Commission.
• The Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Higher Education is the Secretary-General of the Commission.

 Important functions:

1. To promote understanding of the objects and purposes of UNESCO among the people of the Republic of India.
2. To serve as a liaison agency between the Government of India and the institutions concerned with the working for the advancement of education, science and culture.
3. To cooperate with the Government departments and with services, organizations and institutions concerned with questions within UNESCO’s competence.
4. To collaborate with the National Commissions of Asia and the Pacific and with UNESCO’s Regional Offices and centres in fostering regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperation in education, the sciences, culture and information, particularly through the joint formulation and execution of programmes.
Sources: the Hindu.