The Action Plan Support Facility (APSF) - India - EU Study Centre, an instrument to implement the Joint Action Plan (JAP) between Europe and India,reinforces the importance of academic cooperation between Europe and India and proposes to create European Study centres in India and Modern India Study Centres in Europe. These centres are aimed at developing and intensifying academic links and promoting knowledge about both regions.

The overall objective of the Action Plan Support Facility India is to strengthen inter institutional links in the field of higher education and academic cooperation between India and the EU, and to  thereby promote better understanding of the EU in India and vice-versa through academics. The direct beneficiaries of the India - EU Study Centres Programme include Indian and European Higher Education Institutions and/or their relevant departments dealing with EU/ Modern Indian Studies or those interested in developing European Centres in India and Modern India Study Centres in Europe.

The other beneficiaries will be the respective academic communities, and students interested in furthering their knowledge on issues related to EU and Modern Indian studies. On a long term basis, the group of beneficiaries will also include business communities and public administration organisations as they will be able to employ those persons who have benefited from these centres. So far, this programme has the chance to become gateway of EU – India exchange, not only in the area of academics but also in other areas of mutual interest. The duration of the project is 40 months and will aim at strengthening the existing centres and facilitate a system to set up and maintain the newly created ones. An APSF PSC will be jointly established by the European Commission (EC) and the Government of India (GOI). Key persons specifically named for the Study Centres component will monitor progress of the project and advice on the implementation of the project. It is expected that the outcome of the project will be a self sustainable network of the EU Study Centres in India and Modern India Study Centres in Europe as well as a network of other institutions and activities related to the EU and India.