Georgia
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India recognized Georgia’s independence on 26 December 1991 and established formal diplomatic relations on 28 September 1992. India does not have a Resident Mission in Georgia. The Indian Mission in Armenia with residence in Yerevan is concurrently accredited to Georgia. The Georgian side had first set up its Honorary Consulate in New Delhi in 2005 which was subsequently upgraded to a fully-fledged Embassy in 2009.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- Georgian nationals visit India for various short-term courses under ITEC scholarships which are offered to Georgia; ICCR Scholarships are offered to Georgian nationals to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Indian Universities.
- Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS) offers scholarships to study Hindi in India. An ICCR Chair of Contemporary Indian Studies was established at the Tbilisi State University (TSU) for one year (2011-12).
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- In December 1994, India had gifted medicines and relief supplies worth Rs. 0.5 million for refugees and displaced persons from Abkhazia. India’s assistance to Georgia at present is mainly in the field of Human Resource Development.
- India offers (i) Training slots (20 on average) every year under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC); the slots were increased to 25 for 2011-12 in view of high demand and utilization; (ii) Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarships to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Indian Universities; and (iii) Kendriya Hindi Sansthan scholarships to study Hindi in India.
- In addition, an ICCR Chair of Contemporary Indian Studies has been established at the Tbilisi State University (TSU). The Chair became operational with the arrival of Prof. R L Hangloo in October 2011. For 2012-13, the Government of India has enhanced the number of ITEC Slots for Georgia to 25.
