As a part of UK India Education Research Initiative, the British Council plans to tie-up with corporate and educational institutions in India for starting several 'Lifestyle and Diversity Zones', which will be exclusive outlets providing not only scholarly journals and magazines but also music CDs and DVDs, and lifestyle magazines.
The council has already tied up with Cafe Coffee Day, one of the popular retail coffee shop chains in the country, for opening food and coffee counters in its existing library in Kolkata.
"We are at very preliminary stages of discussions for opening exclusive outlets. However, we plan to open first such outlet in Delhi," said Sujata Sen, director, east India, British Council.
The first lifestyle zone in the British Council, Kolkata, was inaugurated by Kim Howells, MP and UK minister of state at the commonwealth office on Tuesday.
"The Diversity and Lifestyle Zone of the British Council is specifically designed to meet the aspirations of the younger generation," he said.
The council is also starting English language courses for primary school teachers in Kolkata.
In this regard, the council also had talks with the school education department in West Bengal, said Sen.
"The English language training course for teachers is a part of UKERI, and will include a teacher's development course also," she added.
UKIERI is a knowledge exchange initiative launched by former prime minister of Britain Tony Blair in April 2006.
The initiative has a funding to the tune of £12 million by the British government. It has also garnered additional funding from corporates like BAE, BP, GlaxoSmithKline and Shell.