Membership of the IIC includes artists, academicians, senior government officials, judges, jurists, parliamentarians, doctors, ministers, governors, social activists, journalists and persons from other domains.

[1][2] It serves as a meeting place for cultural and intellectual offerings; while maintaining its non-official character, non-aligned motivations and remains uncommitted to any particular form of governmental, political, economic or religious affiliation.

The centre's main complex and its annex (located adjacent to Lodhi Gardens) were designed by the architect Joseph Allen Stein.

[3] There are several other major institutions around the centre, which are also designed by Stein, giving the area the popular name of 'Steinabad'.

[5] The centre has been known for hosting lectures and discourses by renowned international personalities which have included the Dalai Lama,[6] UN Secretary General Kofi Annan,[7] Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev Jesse Jackson, Noam Chomsky, Salman Rushdie,[3] US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,[8] former Hong Kong governor Christopher Patten,[1] Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and many other eminent persons.