Embassy of India, Warsaw

India-Poland Relations

I.  Political Relations

India & Poland share a long-standing friendly relationship, marked by high level political contacts and vibrant economic engagement. Diplomatic relations were established in 1954, leading to the opening of the Indian Embassy in Warsaw in 1957. The two countries shared common ideological perceptions, based on their opposition to colonialism, imperialism and racism. During the Communist era, bilateral relations were close and cordial, with regular high level visits (several VVIP visits from India – beginning with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955 - and four from Poland), coupled with planned trade and economic interactions by state trading organizations, underpinned by the rupee clearing arrangements.

The relationship continued to remain close after Poland chose the democratic path in 1989. India and Poland transitioned to hard currency trading arrangements that were sustained by rising levels of trade as both economies grew in size and heft. A cordial political relationship has emerged in the current century, particularly after Poland joined the EU in 2004, and became India’s key economic partner in Central Europe.

Visits: Over earlier decades, India and Poland have had robust exchanges at the level of Heads of State and Government. High level visits from India to Poland include: Presidents V.V. Giri (1970), Zail Singh (1986), S.D. Sharma (1996) and Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru (1955), Indira Gandhi (1967) and Morarji Desai (1979). From the Polish side, high level visits include: Presidents Alexander Kwasniewski (1998), Lech Walesa (1994 and 1998), Prime Ministers Cyrankieweicz (1957) and Jaroszewicz (1973), Polish United Workers’ Party First Secretary Gierek (1977) and Gen. Jaruszelski (1985) and Polish PM Leszek Miller (2003). The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil, visited Poland in April 2009, and Polish PM Donald Tusk paid a state visit to India in September 2010. Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari visited Poland in April, 2017. Krzysztof Szczerski, Secretary of State and Chief of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland visited India in January 2019. EAM Dr S. Jaishankar visited Poland from 28-29 August 2019. Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Marcin Przydacz visited India in September 2019 to inaugurate the launch of direct flights from Warsaw to Delhi. The then FM Zbigniew Rau visited India from 25-27 April 2022 to take part in the Raisina Dialogue. In the margins of the Raisina Dialogue, he also called on PM and met EAM. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs W.T. Bartozewski visited India from 19-23 February 2024 to meet MoS Meenakshi Lekhi and then Deputy NSA Vikram Misri. He also participated in the 9th edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2024. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Poland in August 2024. Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Michal Gramatyka visited India on 15-16 October 2024 to attend the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 Conference held in New Delhi.  Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs W.T. Bartoszewski visited India to participate in the 2025 Edition of the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi. Mr Rafal Rosnicki, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Digital Affairs visited India in November 2025 to participate in the Bengaluru Tech Summit and later in February 2026 for the AI Impact Summit in Delhi.  Polish Dy. Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski visited India and met with EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar in Delhi on 19 January 2026.  Secretary of State Mr. WT Bartoszewski visited India to participate in the India-EU Forum in February 2026. Ms. Pooja Kapur, Additional Secretary (NE), MEA visited Warsaw in March 2026 to hold bilateral consultations with Poland. During her visit, Ms. Pooja Kapur also met with Secretary of State Mr. W T Bartoszewski on 25 March 2026 in Warsaw. 

Visit of Prime Minister to Poland: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Poland on 21-22 August 2024 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland. PM’s visit was historic as this visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Poland took place after 45 years. Prime Minister held discussions with PM Donald Tusk in restricted and delegation-level formats. PM also called on President Andrzej Duda of Poland in a tete-a-tete format and held delegation level talks with him. The principal outcome of the visit was the decision to elevate the India-Poland bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership. Joint Statement on the bilateral partnership and Action Plan (2024-2028) to implement the future Strategic Partnership were issued during the visit. PM paid homage to the Dobry Maharaja Memorial, Kolhapur Memorial, Monte Cassino Memorial on 21 August 2024 and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw on 22 August 2024. He also interacted with Polish business leaders, Indologists, influencers and addressed the Indian Community in Poland during the visit. Prime Minister announced the launch of a Jamsaheb Youth Exchange Programme wherein Government of India will arrange the visit of 20 Polish youth to India including to the Balachadi and Valivade camps in Jamnagar and Kolhapur.

Visit of Vice President to Poland: The then Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari, paid an official visit to Poland in April 2017, leading a high-level delegation, including Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and four Members of Parliament from both Houses – Shri Sita Ram Yechuri, Shri D.P. Tripathi, Shri Vivek K. Tankha and Shri Thupstan Chhewang. During the visit, the Vice President held extensive talks with the Prime Minister, President and the Marshal (Speaker) of the Senate (Upper House). The Vice President addressed, jointly with the Polish Prime Minister, an Indo-Polish Business Summit at the Ministry of Economic Development in Warsaw. He also formally inaugurated the newly-built Embassy complex in Warsaw. During the visit, an agreement on cooperation in agriculture and allied sector was signed. The VVIP visit, after a gap of nine years, helped to greatly reinvigorate the warm bilateral ties between India and Poland. 

Visit of EAM to Poland: EAM Dr S. Jaishankar visited Poland on 4-5 September 2026. He held delegation level talks with his Polish counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski on 4/9/2026 followed by a press conference. He also called on President Karol Nawrocki at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw and met with the Poland-India Parliamentary group headed by Ms. Kinga Gajewska, MP at the Sejm on 4/9/2026.  On 5/9/2026, EAM paid tributes at the memorials of Dobry Maharaja and the Maharaja of Kolhapur in Warsaw.  EAM Dr. Jaishankar’s previous visit to Warsaw was on 28-29 August 2019.  EAM had held delegation level talks with his Polish counterpart Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, which was followed by joint address to the media. EAM had also met with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Glinski.   Prior to that EAM level visit from India to Poland took place in 1987. 

Visit of Undersecretary of State Marcin Przydacz to India in September 2019 - LOT flight inauguration: Marcin Przydacz, Under Secretary of State visited India in September 2019 on the occasion of inauguration of LOT Polish Airlines’ direct flight on the Warsaw – Delhi sector. During the visit, he met with MoS(IC) for Civil Aviation Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and discussed possibility of creating a broader network of air connections in the future and also informed about plans of Poland to build the Solidarity Transport Hub (CPK) in Poland. He also had a fruitful meeting with Secretary (ER).

Agreements: A number of bilateral agreements are operational that include: Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (1957); Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation (1989); Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology (1993); Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations (1996); Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime and International Terrorism (2003); MOU on Defence Cooperation (2003); Extradition Treaty (2003); Agreement on Economic Cooperation (2006); Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Healthcare and Medical Sciences (2009); Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Tourism (2009); Agreement on audio-visual co-production (2012); Protocol on amending the agreement on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes and income (2013); Agreement on exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports (2015); Agreement on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors (2017); Cooperation in the area of Coal Mining (2019); Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters (2022) and Agreement on engagement in the gainful occupation by family members of a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post (2022). India-Poland Social Security Agreement and Administrative Arrangement to the Social Security Agreement was signed on 25 November 2024 in Warsaw. 

Parliamentary Exchanges: Contacts between the Indian and Polish Parliaments were established after the overthrow of the Communist system in 1989. Polish parliamentary delegations have visited India in December 1992, March 2000, January 2003 and December 2004. Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Manohar Joshi, led a multi-party Parliamentary delegation to Poland in May 2002. Following the last general elections in October 2023, a 22-member Parliamentary Friendship Group has been constituted on 27 June 2024 with Ms. Kinga Gajewska, MP as its President. A delegation of Polish MPs led by Mrs. Dorota Niedziela, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm including Secretary of State Mr. W.T. Bartoszewski, visited Jaipur from 8-11 December 2024 for a business and investment summit titled Rising Rajasthan. On the sidelines of the conference, the Polish MPs interacted with Speaker of the Lok Sabha Mr. Om Birla, Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal and Culture & Tourism Minister Mr. G. S. Shekhawat. A 6-member group of Polish MPs led by Mr. Pawel Kowal, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Sejm (lower House of Polish Parliament) visited India from 7-13 February 2025 for bilateral interactions. During the visit, the delegation of Polish MPs met with Mr. Pabitra Margherita , MOA(EA);  Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Chairman, Standing Committee on External Affairs and Mr. Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi. In order to strengthen India’s legislative engagement with Poland, the Lok Sabha constituted India-Poland Parliamentary Friendship group in February 2026 which is headed by Hon’ble MP Mr. Surendra Singh Nagar.  In the context of setting up a museum of Humanity and Peace at Valivade, Kolhapur, Ms. Kinga Gajewska, MP and Chairperson of the Poland-India Parliamentary group in Sejm led a delegation comprising Poland’s CG in Mumbai, Director of the Polish Institute in Delhi and a few businesspersons to Kolhapur and Mumbai in August 2026.  

Foreign Office Consultations: Both sides have been regularly engaging in Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) since 1996. On 6 December 2024, India and Poland held Bilateral  Consultations at Director General-level in New Delhi between Mr. Arun Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary (Central Europe), MEA and Mr. Wojciech Zaj?czkowski, Director, Asia-Pacific Department, MFA Poland. The 11th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India & Poland was held in New Delhi on 1 December 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Sibi George, Secretary(West), MEA and Mr. W.T. Bartoszewski, Secretary of State, MFA Poland. Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, particularly the India-Poland Strategic Partnership with reference to the Action Plan (2024-2028) agreed to by both Governments during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Poland in August 2024. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to bolster cooperation in the areas of digital payment systems, cyber security, trade and investment, Al, security and defence, culture and higher education, consular issues and people-to-people ties. 

Policy Planning Dialogue: The second India-Poland Policy Planning Dialogue was held in Warsaw on 18 February 2025 between delegations led by Mr. S. Raghuram, Joint Secretary(PP&R), MEA and Mr. Lukasz Pawlowski, Director (Strategy), MFA. The first India-Poland PPD was held in a virtual mode on 24 March 2021 between Mr. Anupam Ray, JS(PP&R), MEA and Mr. Maciej Pisarski, Director(Strategy), MFA. 

II. Economic & Commercial relations

India-EU FTA was concluded in Delhi  in January 2026. Poland continues to be India’s largest trading & investment partner in Central & Eastern Europe. 7th session of India-Poland Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation was held in Delhi on 14 July 2026. Over the period 2013-2025, the total bilateral trade with Poland has witnessed an increase of 192% i.e. from US$1.95 billion in 2013 to US$ 6.36 billion in 2025. The balance of trade continues to be largely in favour of India.  

Growth of trade between India and Poland, 2016-2026 

(Figures in US$ billion)

(Source: Central Statistical Office of Poland; Trade Figures in US$ million; Calendar year basis Jan-Dec)

Major items of Indian export to Poland include: (i) Textiles and Apparel (ii) Chemicals and Pharma (iii) Electronic Machinery (iv) Leather and Articles thereof (v) Base Metals and Articles thereof (vi) Engineering Goods (vii) Vehicles other than Railway (viii) Rubber (ix) Mineral Fuels  (x) Tobacco.  The top 10 items of Indian import from Poland include: (i) Machinery and Mechanical Appliances: parts thereof (ii) Base Metals and Articles  thereof (iii) Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products of their Distillation (iv) Electrical, Machinery and Equipment and Parts thereof (v) Precious Metals and Stones (vi) Optical, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical Apparatus; Parts (vii) Albuminoidal Substances, Modified Starches, Glues, Engymes (viii) Rubber and Articles thereof (ix) Aircraft, Spacecraft and parts thereof (x) Ceramci Goods

Investment:  Indian investments in Poland are valued at over US$ 3 billion, which comprises companies such as ArcelorMittal, Videocon, Escorts, Strides Arcolab, Ranbaxy, Essel Propack, KPIT Cummins, Zensar Technologies Ltd, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies Ltd, Infosys and Wipro, Jindal Stainless, Berger Paints India, UFLEX and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Rishab Instruments (acquired Lumel), MSN Laboratories and CRISIL. The Indian companies are partners in Poland’s development and creating substantial number of jobs locally.  The Indian IT companies are spearheading Indian investment in Poland and are estimated to employ nearly 10,000 Polish experts. The two Indian companies that are running their factories in the town of Kstrzyn are Essel Propack (where it produces laminated tubes) and Novo Tech (a manufacturer of polymer products), while VVF is managing a soap factory in Raciborz.

Major Polish companies that operate in India include Torunskie Zaklady Materialow Opatrunkowych (TZMO) in Dindigul, Bengaluru, Mumbai (manufacturing hygiene and sanitary products), Can-Pack Poland in Aurangabad and Nuh (manufacturing metal packaging), Geofizyka Torun, Famur Group, Maflow and Ekolog (waste to energy). Total Polish investment is around US$ 635 million. 

Institutional Linkage

Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC): Under the umbrella of the Agreement on Economic Cooperation of 2006, periodic meetings (in every two years) are held. The Seventh Session of the India-Poland Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) was held in New Delhi on 14 July 2026 The Indian side was led by Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary DPIIT and the Polish side was led by Mr. Michal Baranowski, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.  Both sides reviewed the overall state of bilateral economic relations and discussed various sectors and areas with potential for enhanced cooperation, including trade and investment, ICT and digital technologies, mining and coal, energy and renewable technologies, food processing and agri-tech, e-mobility and green hydrogen, MSMEs and start-ups, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, defence, science and technology, space, green technologies, smart cities, agriculture, tourism, and film and audiovisual cooperation. Both sides agreed to promote greater business-to-business engagement, investment opportunities, technology and knowledge exchange, joint research and capacity building, participation in trade fairs and business missions, and closer cooperation between relevant government institutions, industry bodies and companies to further strengthen mutually beneficial economic ties.

Sectoral Collaboration

IT/ICT Sector: Indian companies have sensed opportunities in Poland for over a decade and have made it a destination of choice for near-shoring operations targeted at Europe. Around thirteen Indian IT companies, employing more than 10,000 professionals, are currently active in Poland. Growth in the Polish IT industry is driven by rising incomes, investment in data networks, high levels of computer literacy support and retail hardware demand. Among others Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCL have a strong presence in Poland. During the 7th Session of the JCEC, both sides reaffirmed that commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of telecommunications and digital technologies and agreed to explore collaboration in areas including 5G use cases, new and emerging technologies, policy and regulatory exchanges, Smart Village and use of AI in telecommunications. Both sides further underscored the importance of advancing digital connectivity and fostering industry collaboration for mutual benefit in the evolving digital ecosystem and explore cooperation in the trade and manufacturing of telecommunication equipment. 

Mining/energy sector: During the Seventh Session of JCEC held on 14 July 2026 in New Delhi, both sides discussed mining and coal.  The Indian side informed possible collaboration  in Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) under the GoI’s ambitious target of gasifying 100 million tonnes (MT) of coal by 2030 to efficiently utilize deep-seated coal reserves and enhance energy security in an environment friendly way.  The cooperation may aim to promote collaborative research, technology exchange, and joint pilot-scale demonstrations to enhance clean coal conversion processes, reduce carbon emissions and support the transition towards low-carbon.  The Indian side proposed collaboration on Mine Closure and Land Reclamation in India as Poland’s deep expertise in mine closure stems from decades of compliance with rigorous European Union environment  and safety standards. As Poland brings valuable expertise in the sustainable development of minerals deposits, shaped by its experience within the European regulatory framework and India, has pioneered a distinctive Star Rating system to assess mines across multiple sustainability parameters, promoting responsible mining practices nationwide, Indian side also proposed a collaboration that could foster meaningful exchange of knowledge, methodologies, and innovations in sustainable mining. Possibilities of capacity building and institutional strentheing to exchange best practices/cutting edge technologies in the mining sector were also discussed during the session. 

Green Technologies: India’s total non-fossil fuel-based Installed capacity stands at around 291.53 GW (as on May 2026, accounting for over 50 percent of total power generation capacity.  This includes 157.5 GW of solar power, 56.81 GW of wind power, 11.75 GW of bioenergy, 5.18 GW of small hydro and 51.96 GW of large hydro capacity. To achieve its 2030 target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel-based capacity, India requires an estimated investment of about Euro 280-300 billion. With the launch of the national Green Hydrogen Mission, India aims to become a global green hydrogen production and export hub, and welcomes collaboration with Poland. During JCEC discussions, Poland expressed its readiness to depen cooperation with India in the field of green technologies by promoting innovative and proven solutions developed by companies participating in Green Evo – the Green Technology Accelerator programme of the Ministry of Climate and Environment.  These solutions, covering areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy and environmental protection, may contribute to the achievement of India’s renewable energy and sustainable development objectives.  Poland will need approximately 160,000 tons of renewable hydrogen of non-biological origin from 2030 onwards with a significant share expected to be met through imports. 

Green mobility /smart cities/ waste management: Ekolog, a Waste to energy Polish company, based in Bagalore, had started its operations in India in 2016. EKOLOG has established expertise in integrated waste management, waste-to-energy, biomethanation, wastewater and sludge treatment, and resource recovery. Electric and Hybrid vehicles manufacturing giant Solaris had also invested in India and has entered into a Joint Venture with JBM Auto Ltd and successfully cooperated in electric mobility-electric and hybrid buses, supported by JBM’s large-scale EV manufacturing capacity in India.  

Pharmaceutical and Chemicals Sector – Poland imported Pharmaceutical items worth US $ 15.6 billion in 2025 wherein India’s share was only US $ 222 million.  Being member of the EU, Polish Pharma sector is governed by a combination of national regulations (Ministry of Health), EU legislation (European Medicines Agency), and some other institutions such as National Health Fund etc. Registering an innovative drug into Poland is a time consuming process which may take up to five years whereas registration of generic drugs is easier. Polish authorities prefer for cheaper medicines and thus innovative medicines are not encouraged.  Indian expertise in APIs and generic drugs can certainly penetrate into the Polish market with a certain and long-time strategy. M/s MSN Laboratory, a Hyderbad based Indian pharma company has opened an office in Poland in 2024 and expanded their operations in 2026. Polpharma, Poland’s largest pharmacutical company has opened an office in Mumbai in March 2026.

Chemical/Rubber/Plastics: Polish imports were US $ US $ 50 billion in 2025 whereas imports from India were only US $ 393 million.  The sector is highly regulated under the REACH Regulation of the EU wherein EU based Only Representative (OR) are appointed. Considering Poland as a smaller market, Indian exporters are not much inclined on compliance of this regulation which involves additional expenditure.  

Engineering Sector: Engineering goods (machinery, mechanical appliances and electrical/electronic equipment) account for approximately 21% of India–Poland bilateral merchandise trade, with two-way trade in these products estimated at around US$ 1.36 billion in 2025 out of total trade of US $ 6.36 billion. India–Poland engineering-sector collaboration has significant potential, particularly in infrastructure, construction, energy, mining, transport, manufacturing and advanced engineering services. Indian companies bring strengths in cost-competitive engineering, EPC execution, IT-enabled engineering and large-scale infrastructure development, while Polish firms offer specialised capabilities in industrial equipment, mining technologies, railways, renewable energy and environmental engineering.  

Textile & Apparel: In 2025, Polish companies imported US $ 24.85 Billion of textiles and apparel. Indian exports during 2025 were just  US $ 1 Billion. India faces a Standard EU custom duty of between 9.5-12% and does not get any rebates under Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) whereas Pakistan (exported ~US $ 1.05 bln) and Bangladesh (exported US $ ~4.13 bln), enjoy zero custom duties on their exports under the GSP. Accordingly, Indian textiles & apparels are less attractive and expensive. Under the concluded FTA negotiations, EU duties on Indian textiles and apparel are to be eliminated. Accordingly, it is expected to improve the competitiveness of Indian products such as yarn, cotton textiles, man-made-fibre apparel, ready-made garments, clothing and home textiles in the EU market.

Ayurveda: Ayurveda-specific products face regulatory and market-access constraints, and Indian products are often positioned as food supplements, cosmetics or wellness products rather than medicines. Thus, Poland represents a growing but still emerging market for Indian Ayurveda, with considerable potential in herbal supplements, personal care, wellness and Ayurvedic services if regulatory compliance and consumer awareness are strengthened. Presently Sattva Ayurveda, Himalya Wellness, Sri Sri Ayurveda,  the ayurdSattva, Himalya and Sri Sri, Lawana are some of the prominent companies dealing with Ayurveda products in Poland. Under the India-EU FTA, provisions to boost Indian traditional medicines have been negotiated.  The FTA provides future certainty and locks in the openness of EU for establishment of AYUSH wellness centres and clinics in the EU Member States.  

Tourism : Tourist arrivals from Poland to India have increased significantly over the past decade, rising from around 15,000 in 2014 to 35,457 in 2023 and 43,316 in 2024.  While there is relatively higher demand in the tourism related to yoga, spiritual, meditation and cultural purposes, the overall number is not high.  Polish outbound tourists are more inclined to travel to European coutries due to cheaper travelling and other costs. However, in recent years cheaper Asian desinations such as Thailand, Vietnam  have attracted Polish tourists.  Despite having a daily direct flight from Warsaw to New Delhi and e-Visa facility to Polish passport holders, the number of Polish tourists is limited.  Some special chartered flight operates between Krakow and Goa. Goa Tourism has been organizing Road-Shows in Poland which has given some encouraging results.  

III Cultural and Educational Relations: Indology: There is a strong tradition of Indology studies in Poland, with Polish scholars having translated Sanskrit into Polish as early as in the 19th Century. Sanskrit was being studied at the 600 year old Jagiellonian University in Krakow (the oldest in Poland) in 1860-61, with a Chair of Sanskrit having been established there in 1893. The Indology Department of the Oriental Institute at the University of Warsaw (established in 1932) is the biggest center for Indian studies in Central Europe. Study of Indian languages, literature, culture and Indology is also pursued at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and the University of Wroclaw. ICCR sponsored the first Central & Eastern European regional conference of Indology in Warsaw University in September 2005 in which 19 scholars from 11 countries participated. An MoU for the establishment of an ICCR Chair of Indian studies at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow was signed in February 2017 and three Indian Professors have since been appointed as ICCR Chair Professors since the signing of the MOU. Prof. Maria Christopher Byrski, former Ambassador of Poland to India (1993-96) and Polish Sanskrit scholar received the Padma Shri Award from the President of India in March 2022 for his contribution in the field of literature and education. Prof. Byrski has taught Polish Indologists and has translated Manusmriti and the dramas of Bhasa and Kalidasa into Polish language. ICCR President Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe conferred the Bharat Mitr Samman, also known as the Distinguished Indologist Award 2022, on Dr. Joanna Jurewicz, Chair of South Asia Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw on 12 October 2023 that celebrated the Poland-India cultural confluence. ICCR conferred another Bharat Mitr Samman – Distinguished Alumni 2023 to Mr. Krzysztof Jakub Iwanek in recognition of the significant contribution in his field and outstanding contribution to the promotion of understanding, goodwill and friendship between India and Poland on December 14, 2025. Three Polish students of Hindi participated in the Visitors Programme for International Hindi students organized by ICCR in May 2023. Well-known Polish Indologists from the Jagiellonian University (Prof. Halina Marlewicz), Adam Mickiewicz University (Prof. Monika Browarczyk) and University of Wroclaw (Prof. Przemyslaw Szurek) participated in ICCR’s Knowledge India International Convention in December 2023. Prof. Danuta Stasik, Chair of South Asian Studies, University of Warsaw, under Academic Visitors Programme of ICCR, visited Indian Institutions of Eminence – JNU, DU, IGNOU,Sahitya Akademi, AU &Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag, and had interactions on Hindi pedagogy and Indology.

Dr. Anna Rucinska, Sanskrit scholar and translator of Gita in Polish language participated in International Gita Mahotsav 2025 held in Kurukshetra, India from Nov.23-25. She was also a panelist on Navigating the Crossroads of Choice, Conflict and Consequences. Yoga: Poland has over 100-year history of yoga. It is estimated that there are over 300,000 yoga practitioners in Poland, with about 1,000 yoga centers and 8,000 teachers propagating Yoga in Poland. The Association of Schools of Yoga, started in 2013 with 11 yoga schools, has now 50 yoga schools under its umbrella. The Art of Living Foundation, Brahma Kumaris and the Iyengar Yoga Association are some of the prominent associations promoting yoga in Poland. The International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year with much enthusiasm and participation at different cities of Poland. Good Maharaja Connection: A monument, commemorating Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawanagar, was unveiled in October, 2014 at the Square of the Good Maharaja, Ochota District, Warsaw, Poland. Another plaque commemorating the Valivade-Kolhapur camp at which another 5000 Polish refugees had found refuge, near the Monte Casino War Memorial was inaugurated in November 2017 in Warsaw. Eight Polish primary and secondary schools are named after Jam Saheb, known as ‘Good Maharaja’ in Poland. The Maharaja had accepted more than 1000 Polish refugees, mainly children, as they escaped the depredations of the Second World War in the 1940s. The surviving Polish children have formed an Association of Poles, which meets on an annual basis in one of the major Polish cities. In coordination and with the support of ICCR, the Embassy organized a commemorative event entitled ”Remembering the Good Maharajas”, in the Old Orangery of the iconic Royal Lazienki park on 5 July 2022. The deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Speaker and Governor of Mazovia represented the Polish side at this event. Representatives of the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar and the Kolhapur Royal Family came from India to attend this event which witnessed participation by ICCR President Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. The first visit of a 20-member Polish youth delegation to India under the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official visit to Poland in August 2024, took place from 19-27 February 2025. Commemorating Indian leaders: A bust of Mahatma Gandhi has been placed in the library of University of Warsaw. It was unveiled in May 2002 by then Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Manohar Joshi. Three streets in Warsaw are named after Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and another one is named after Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore. Cities of Krakow and Lodz also have streets named after Mahatma Gandhi. 

Friendship Societies: There are a number of Indo-Polish Friendship Societies that promote Indian culture and people-to-people contacts locally.

IV Consular Relations

Honorary Consulate: Since January 2018, India has an Honorary Consulate in Wroclaw and another Honorary Consulate General was opened in Krakow in August 2024. In addition to the Polish Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai, Poland has two Honorary Consulates in Kolkata and Bengaluru. 

Visas: Poland has been included in the e-visa scheme w.e.f. 15 August, 2015 and a large number of Poles avail of e-visa facilities for tourism and business purpose. 

Indian Community: Estimated at approximately 30,000, the Indian community in Poland consists of traders (textiles, garments and electronics) who came after the collapse of communism and professionals working with multinational and Indian companies and software/IT businesses. Approximately 3500 students are currently pursuing studies in various universities in Poland. More than 100 Indian restaurants operate in Poland. 

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