The interactions between Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and noted Japanese philosopher and cultural ideologue Tenshin Okakura could be considered as the beginning of academic exchanges between Japan and India in the modern era.

After concluding the Cultural Agreement in 1957, both countries embarked upon various programmes including encouraging of academic interactions. Some of the landmarks are setting up of a Centre of Japanese Studies in New Delhi, introduction of Monbusho scholarships to Indian students, ICCR scholarships to Japanese students, fellowship programs of the Japan Foundation. Collaborations between Japanese Society for Promotion of Science, Science Council of Japan and Indian National Science Academy, Indian Council for Social Science Research helped in exchange of scholars and also conducting joint research.

In addition, a number of Japanese and Indian universities/institutes signed MoUs to exchange research personnel, to conduct joint research.

Commemorating the visit of Japanese Prime Minister to India, a first ever meeting on Academic Exchange between Japan and India was held with the participation of Presidents/Vice-Presidents of top Japanese Universities and Vice Chancellors/ Directors of Indian Universities/IITs on 21st August 2007. They had exchanged information on their respective universities/ institutions and discussed future collaborations for acceleration of exchange of students and professors. Several universities/ institutes had also the opportunity of having bilateral meetings to have exhaustive discussions and chalk out modalities of academic exchange. The meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology from the Japanese side and the Ministry of Human Resource Development from the Indian side.

The Japanese and Indian Chairmen submitted Summary of the meeting to Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe and Human Resource Development Minister Mr Arjun Singh.