The Alliance françaises in India are local chapters of the worldwide network of Alliance française which was founded in 1883 in Paris to promote French language and culture around the world. Its 834 branches, including the 14 centers in India, are meeting places for people who share a common appreciation for France, its language and its culture and want to learn more about it.Alliances françaises are locally registered Indian associations which offer French language classes and organise a diverse array of activities and events in the areas of higher education and visual and performing arts. They are officially recognized by the Embassy of France in India for the organization of the DELF-DALF examinations for testing one's proficiency in the French language. The 14 Alliances française in India are located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Goa, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Pondicherry, Chandigarh and Bhopal and have 19 annexes, covering the vast majority of the Indian territory. They participate actively in the cultural life of India and act as a dynamic platform for bilateral exchanges in education, arts and culture.