High Commission of the United Kingdom, New Delhi facts for kids

The British High Commission in New Delhi is like the United Kingdom's main office in India. It helps keep a good relationship between the two countries. You can find it in a part of New Delhi called Chanakyapuri, on a street called Shantipath.

This High Commission helps British citizens living in or visiting Northern India. This includes the city of Delhi and the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. The High Commission also has smaller offices, called Deputy High Commissions, in other big Indian cities like Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. The office in Bangalore works with the Chennai office.

What the High Commission Does

The British High Commission has many different teams that work together. Each team helps with a specific part of the relationship between the UK and India.

Helping with Culture and Education

• British Council Division: This team helps people learn about British culture, education, and the English language. They also support science and arts projects. The British Council has offices in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai. They also manage British Libraries in cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and Pune.

High Commission Offices Across India

• British High Commission Offices: The main offices are in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai. There is also an office in Bangalore that works closely with the Chennai office.

Supporting Business and Trade

• British Trade Offices: These offices help businesses from the UK and India work together. They are located in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Pune.
• Trade and Investment Section: This team helps promote trade and investments between the UK and India. They also work on economic relations.

Services for British Citizens

• British Nationals Services: This service helps British citizens with urgent needs. They can also help you apply for or renew your passport.
• Consular Department: This team provides help and protection for British citizens. They also issue passports. There is also a consular office in Goa.
• Visa Department: If you want to travel to the United Kingdom, this team helps you get a visa. Since 2003, a private company called Visa Facilitation Services helps collect visa applications. These applications are then checked by the British High Commission in New Delhi or the Deputy High Commissions in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

Working with the Indian Government

• Defence Department: This team handles all parts of the defence relationship between the United Kingdom and India.
• Department for International Development (DFID): This department works on programs to help India develop. Their main goal is to work with the Indian government to reduce poverty. DFID also has offices in New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
• FCO Programme Funding Department: This fund was started in 2003 to help the United Kingdom reach its international goals.
• Management Department: This team manages all the people and money for the High Commission. They support all the other departments.
• Political Department: This team is in charge of the political relationship between the governments of the United Kingdom and India.
• Press and Communications Department: This team shares information about the British Government's policies in India.

Online Presence

In 2010, the British High Commission launched its website in Hindi, making it easier for more people to access information.

More to Explore

• List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to India
• India–United Kingdom relations
• List of diplomatic missions in India
• List of diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom