WEEKLY FOCUS

#82, NOVEMBER 2022

EVOLVING DYNAMICS OF

GUWAHATI
INTRODUCTION

India has risen as a major player in the geo-politics at an international level. Part of this rise can be attributed to its dynamic
and adaptive Foreign Policy. With changes in regimes, India's emphasis on its Foreign Policy has wavered over the years in
response to shifting global geopolitical dynamics. Some things have remained constant; some things, however, have brought
changes in the position of the country in the global world.

The dynamics of India's foreign policy is something that affect us as citizens and residents of India in some form or the other.
In order to understand this, we need to understand the meaning of the term ‘Foreign Policy’, what is India's Foreign Policy,
how has India's foreign policy evolved over the years, how India will relate to a changing global landscape, what are the
challenges for India in a contemporary world that is constantly evolving and what strategies would be relevant for India to
make a path ahead that would serve its national priorities, as well as claim its place on the international stage. In this edition,
we will attempt to answer these questions.

WHAT DO WE UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM 'FOREIGN POLICY' ?

Foreign Policy is a set of principles and decisions, a plan of action and a thought out course of action adopted and
used by a nation for conducting relations with other nations and all international actors with a view to secure the
preferred and defined goals of her national interest.
Foreign Policy objectives are achieved through 'Diplomacy' which is a profession, skill and art of managing country's
relations with the rest of the world.
Key principles for the development of any foreign policy are:
Maintaining geographical integrity and political independence with other states.
Accelerating the process of social and economic development within the state. India's foreign policy has
Increasing the individual strength of a state. Four important goals:
The foreign policy goals of a state must complement international standards.
Protect India from traditional and non-
traditional threats.
Create an external environment which is
WHAT ARE THE CORE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES conducive for an inclusive development of
AND FEATURES OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY? India.
Ensure that India's voice is heard on global
forums and that India is able to influence
The underlying principles of India's foreign policy are rooted in the world opinion on issues of global dimensions.
Indian ethos, culture and traditional Indian thinking and helps achieve Engage and protect Indian Diaspora.
foreign policy goals. These principles are potrayed through
PANCHSHEEL:
PANCHSHEEL, or Five Virtues were formally enunciated in the India-
China Agreement in 1954 and later evolved to act as the basis of
conduct of international relations globally. These Five Principles
are:

MUTUAL
RESPECT FOR EACH MUTUAL MUTUAL EQUALITY
NON- NON- PEACEFUL
OTHER’S TERRITO- AND MUTUAL CO-EXISTENCE
RIAL INTEGRITY & AGGRESSION INTERFERENCE BENEFIT
SOVEREIGNTY
THE ABOVE FIVE PRINCIPLES FORM THE BASIS OF
FOLLOWING FEATURES OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY:

Opposition to Export of Ideologies and Change of Regimes: India believes in and supports Democracy; however, India
does not believe in the export of ideologies nor does it endorse the idea of regime change or violation of territorial
integrity in a particular country by use of force or other means (Ex. US interventions in Iraq, Libya, Syria or Russia's inter-
vention in Georgia, Ukraine etc.).
At the same time, India also promotes democracy by proactively providing assistance in capacity building and streng-
thening the institutions of democracy, albeit with the explicit consent of the concerned Government. (Ex. In Afghanistan).
India does not endorse unilateral sanctions /military actions against any individual country by another country or a
group of countries unless these sanctions/military actions have been approved by the United Nations as a result of inter-
national consensus. India therefore contributes only to such Peace-Keeping military operations which are part of the UN
Peace-keeping Forces.
Intervention but not Interference: India does not believe in interference Indian Diplomacy: Indian in thought
in the internal affairs of other countries but supports quick and timely
intervention in case the country has the potential of impinging upon Indian diplomacy is guided by bearings
India's national interests. (Examples: Bangladesh (1971), IPKF in Sri Lanka that arise from Indian thinking influenced
(1987-90), Maldives (1988)). over centuries by Kautilya's Arthshastra
or ancient texts such as the Mahabharata
Constructive Engagement over Aggression: India believes that violent
and the Bhagvad Gita.
retaliation and confrontation can only complicate the matters. However,
India resorts to aggression as and when situation demands. The idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Examples include Surgical strike to target terrorist –launch pads in POK (The World is One Family) potrays India's
and Air Strike at terrorist camps in Balakote. philosophy of conducting International
Strategic Autonomy: Since independence, India has vowed to chart an Relations. This entails:
independent course in its foreign relations and partnerships and follow o Tradition of the Middle Path
proactive neutrality through Non-Alignment. Accordingly, o Human-centric globalization
India believes in issue based partnerships and shuns alliances, particularly o Strategic Independence
military alliances.
For example, by abstaining from voting against Russia in the UNSC, while
insisting on an immediate cessation of violence, India have managed to
showcase its neutrality.
Global Consensus on Issues of Global Dimensions: India advocates a global debate on issues of global dimensions such
as world trade regime, climate change, terrorism, intellectual property rights, global governance etc.
Diplomatic Outreach: It helped a qualitative upgrade in existing bilateral relationships and enhanced coordination on a
range of regional and global issues. It revitalised and reinvigorated relations and at the same time opened new doors for
mutually nourishing partnerships in a wide array of areas.
EVOLUTION OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY

Three main phases of the global political and security order and India's Foreign Policy response to the same:

1947 to 1991: 1991 to 2008: 2008 to the present times:

In the bipolar world order With USSR split, foreign currency Financial crisis and recession was
dominated by two rival super crisis in India and emergence of followed by Rise of China and other
powers, the USA and the USSR, unipolar world order dominated emerging countries and multilateral
India followed the policy of non- by USA, India weaned itself away institutions and shifting of fulcrum of
alignment so as to overcome its from non-alignment to a multi- global power from the West to the
severe political, social and eco- polar alignment, incorporated East. Evolving Indian diplomacy is
nomic stress and degradation, globalization and paid greater primarily focused on the USA, China,
after two centuries of colonial attention to its immediate other P-5 member countries, and our
rule. neighbourhood. neighbourhood. Africa has loomed
into focus along with Latin America
and Economic diplomacy has taken
the pole above that of political and
security issues.

STABILITY AND DYNAMISM IN INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY DOMAIN

Static factors which contribute to Factors that make India's Foreign Policy
stability in India's foreign policies are: process dynamic and responsive are:

India's geopolitical potential

India's military might

Political stability

Demographic dividend
Socio-religious balance

Reduction and China's aggression

elimination of poverty
Rivalry among countries
Strategic independence

The continuity provided Digitization

by the Indian Foreign
Service (IFS) Indian diaspora

Growing Indian market

Crisis situation like covid-19

5
INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY DYNAMICS DURING COVID-19
Putting the health sector on priority, covid 19 gave a different dimension to India's foreign policy. This COVID crisis also
brought up many opportunities for India to cement its position as a responsible and constructive member of the
global community.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY DURING COVID-19:

Health Diplomacy: Through initiatives like Operation Sanjeevani, Vaccine Maitri, the deployment of medical Rapid
Response Teams in several countries, the linking of health professionals and pooling of health capacities, and supply of
essential medical products, India has reinforced its credentials as a provider of net health security and first responders
thereby condoning its belief of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'.
India's approach contrasted with the "vaccine nationalism" that characterized pandemic policy in the United States
and other high-income countries.
Putting Domestic Priorities First: With burgeoning domestic needs in the fight against COVID-19's second wave and
faltering domestic vaccine production, India banned export of vaccines and accepted foreign aid after 17 years.
Commitment to Multilateralism: India's push for reformed multilateralism became stronger than ever before during
the crisis followed by the failure of UN and WHO to tackle the crisis effectively.
Digital Diplomacy: India has been agile in its efforts in continuing our foreign policy operations through its virtual
participation in G20 and NAM Summits, the Global Vaccination Summit, BRICS, SCO, and RIC meetings.
Commitment to Regional Cooperation: Initiatives like launching dedicated fund to fight the pandemic, high level
engagements through BIMSTEC and SAARC summits, providing aid to ASEAN Covid-19 Response Fund and launching
Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support (SWADES) highlighted India's leadership role in promoting
regional cooperation to deal with the crisis.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC THRUST AREAS OF

INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE PRESENT TIME?

PRIORITIZING AN INTEGRATED NEIGHBOURHOOD

Neighbourhood first policy: It aims to address the trust deficit, reset relations and build bridges of friendship and under-
standing thorough mutually beneficial cooperation through Platforms like SAARC and BIMSTEC. A massive effort has been
made to improve connectivity in our neighbourhood.
Railway projects with Bangladesh and Nepal; Chabahar and Sittwe Ports in Iran and Myanmar; and
multi-modal transport corridors in Bangladesh are some concrete examples of progress.
Outreach towards extended neighbourhood: Not only to bolster its economic and strategic engagements with the
region but also to emerge as a potential security balancer in the region. Act East Policy, Look West policy, Connect Central
Asia policy and India-USA-Japan-Australia Quad are pointers in that direction.

LEVERAGING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

TO PROMOTE INDIA'S DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT
Strategic Balancing of relations between major powers: India has the ability to balance comprehensive strategic relations
with major powers like US and Russia while maintaining strategic autonomy.
India has repeatedly stressed that it views its relationship with Russia and the US independent of each other and will not
let either of them dictate its foreign policy.
Outreach to middle powers: India's ties with Germany, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, supports objectives in enhan-
cing its economic and technological growth. Likewise, successful outreach to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia has
enhanced India's quest for stable energy supplies and increased foreign investment while also limiting their traditional
support for Pakistan.
Diplomacy for Development: India aims to bring innovative and inclusive solutions to foster development. Foreign collabo-
rations for several flagship schemes such as Skill India, Smart Cities, Make in India, Digital India for creating a new India by
2022 are steps in this direction.
 Entering into Free Trade Agreements: India has signed SHIFTING OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY
various FTA's with countries like Japan, Korea, UAE and with IN MIDDLE EAST
groupings like ASEAN to accelerate economic integration and
United States, India, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates have
making India a vital cog in the Global supply chains.
agreed to set up a new joint working group often touted as 'new
Middle East quad' to coordinate strategy.
ENSURING A STABLE AND MULTIPOLAR India partnering with the US, Israel, and the UAE in the region is a
reflection of how fundamentally India's foreign policy in the Middle
BALANCE OF POWER East has shifted. Keeping its distance from the United States, Israel,
and the Persian Gulf states on regional issues has long been India's
Commitment to multilateral and plurilateral solutions default mode in the Middle East.
and understandings: India participate and shape the KEY REASONS BEHIND THE GROWING SYNERGIES WITH THE
thinking of multilateral organisations such as UNSC, COP26, MIDDLE-EAST COUNTRIES:
Maritime security: Strait of Hormuz situated between Persian
G7, BRICS and SCO and is the major supporter of plurilateral
and Gulf regions is very important for securing India's economic
initiatives such as BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim and security interests.
Association. Energy security: Cordial relations with the major oil and gas
Plurilateral initiatives also known as minilaterals allow more suppliers to India, including Iran, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia
is a must.
like-minded nations to come together for a purpose and has To counter Pakistani influence in the Gulf region: Using the
emerged as a reaction to failing multilateralism. platform of OIC and making connections with Arab countries,
Pakistan is trying to get support on Kashmir issue.
Upholding a rules-based international order: India is
Rising importance of Israel: Israel has been very important to
committed to evolve a world order underpinned by the rule India due to technical, intelligence, and military support. While
of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the interna- India's Muslims hold a soft-corner towards Palestine. India purs-
ues a careful balance of diplomacy between Israel and Palestine
tional seas, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty
To combat international terrorism: Middle-east has been the
and peaceful resolution of disputes. hub of international terrorism through groups like Al Qaida and
ISI in Iraq, Syria, Jordon, Yemen and other places.
ADVANCING INDIAN REPRESENTATION
AND LEADERSHIP ON MATTERS OF
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

To be a force for global good: With its ethos of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, India have been at the forefront of extending
humanitarian assistance in natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods even during the darkest days of the
pandemic.
Support for human security: India has made an enormous effort to improve the security situation in its neighborhood
and extended neighborhood. This include measures such as anti-piracy patrols; pollution control and maritime search and
rescue operations; joint exercises etc.
Responsible and constructive actor on the world stage: India is an active participant in the global conversations on
climate change, terrorism, connectivity and maritime security. As a responsible global power, India has co-founded institut-
ions such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure to bring about greater
cooperation in renewable energy and disaster preparedness and relief.
Development of defence capabilities: There has been a renewed focus towards achieving self-reliance in defence capabil-
ities so as to reduce its dependence on other countries and also to enhance India's global stature.
Recently commissioned INS Vikrant, is a significant milestone in India's pursuit of self-reliance.

LEVERAGING SOFT POWER POTENTIAL TO ADVANCE INDIA'S GLOBAL INFLUENCE

Non-Prescriptive Development assistance: This involves a judicious mix of outright grants and soft loans linked to
project/ commodity exports. Also, India is judiciously working to ensure that the "goodwill'' thus earned must get translated
into concrete political and economic dividends.
Deployment of soft power resources: India's spiritualism, yoga, movies and television soaps, classical and popular dance
and music, its principles of non-violence, democratic institutions, plural society and cuisine have all attracted people across
the world.
DYNAMICS OF INDIAN CLIMATE POLICY IN ITS LARGER FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA
India has transitioned from a protest voice on the fringes of global climate policy to one that is actively shaping international
efforts to combat climate change. Shifts in India's stance runs parallel to its domestic priorities and its rising developmental
status in the world.

At the first global conference on the environment in Stockholm, 1972, Indian PM's speech initia-
ted an intellectual tradition in Indian climate policy that pits socio economic development
The Beginning against environmental protection and accuses the developed countries of the North for causing
(1972-1990s) global environmental problems.
Voice of Protest Report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), called 'Global Warming in an Unequal
World' and accused developed countries of “carbon colonialism”.

Starting with the UNFCCC at Rio Earth Summit in 1992, India identified itself with the Group of
77 (G77), i.e. developing nations who urged developed countries to take action on climate change
while arguing that developing nations might only take on voluntary commitments conditional on
Early 1990s till receipt of finance and technology transfers from industrialised nations.
2000s Subsequently, The principles of Equity, Common But Differentiated Responsibilities' (CBDR)
and Respective Capabilities(RC) were championed by India.
Active role in
The negotiations eventually resulted in the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 which emphasised the conti-
global climate
negotiations nued relevance of the differentiation between nations with respect to the burden of respons-
ibility for climate action.

There was a shift in the climate discourse in India as a result of a growing recognition of the co-
benefits approach where policies to address climate change are mainstreamed into domestic
priorities of poverty alleviation and economic growth.
In 2002, India reversed its scepticism of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the
2000 till 2011 Kyoto Protocol and began to gain funding for projects in India.
At COP 13 in Bali in 2007, India accepted that developing countries should participate in the
Shift towards global mitigation effort, on a voluntary basis in line with their capabilities.
more realistic On a domestic level, India released its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in
assessments
2008. India along with other BASIC countries announced voluntary targets to reduce the em-
issions intensity of its GDP.

COP17 in Durban in 2011 marked a shift towards a bottom up architecture for climate govern-
ance wherein all countries would make pledges for climate action under a system of peer review.
At COP 19 in Warsaw in 2013, the idea of Nationally Determined Commitments was first moo-
2011 onwards ted and eventually led to the final version of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Shaping of (INDCs).
International India also submitted its INDCs, launched the International Solar Alliance on the side lines of
processes with COP 21 and is aggressively pushing for expansion of its renewable energy program.
strong Indian
engagement
WHAT ARE THE EMERGING CHALLENGES
TO INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY GOALS?

REGIONAL INSTABILITY AND NON-CONDUCIVE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

India and its immediate periphery: India often lacks the economic instruments of influence—deep trade links,
significant financial investments, or extensive physical connectivity—and cannot easily utilize its military forces without
putting at risk other national goals.
This often unnerves its immediate neighbours and prompts them to look outside the subcontinent for sources of
countervailing assistance and support.
China's emergence as one of the pre-eminent powers: China's rise in the international system has immense
consequences for India because of factors, like the unresolved border dispute; Chinese military modernization;
uncertainties regarding Chinese intentions; its relation with India's neighbours; the potential expansion of its maritime
power into the Indian Ocean; sharing of river waters; the potential for resource competition in West Asia, Latin America
and Africa and many others.
Engaging pakistan: Repeated cease fire violations at LOC and the bellicose statements from Pakistan strongly suggest
that a period of increasing tension, instability and heightened possibility of terrorist and militant attacks is here to stay.
Churning in the Europe: Ukraine conflict has potentially significant implications for the Indo-Pacific and US-India
cooperation. On the one hand, Russia's success may embolden China's territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region which
could impede US-India strategic cooperation in the region. On the other hand, differences between US and India's
approach to conflict have potential to create tensions in their relationship.
India being a swing power in the asia-pacific region: Its military ties with Moscow, the economic importance of Beijing
and America as a strategic counterweight to China are the major variables that India often have to balance according to
its priorities.
Reshaping middle east: Stability and democracy are two key factors that India seeks to restore in the region to secure
her vital interests that include the safety and security of her expatriates, energy supplies, investments and projects in the
region, combating maritime security, piracy and the sensitiveness of her vast Muslim community.

EXTERNAL ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING INDIA'S INTEREST

Stressed economic situation: A tardy recovery from the 2008 financial crisis and a slowdown in global trade are
challenges independent of and predating the pandemic induced slowdowns. Economic realities imposed by the pandemic
have further revealed vulnerabilities associated with global supply chains.
India's dependence for its energy security: Despite of other alternate sources of energy available today, India's
dependence on hydrocarbon sources such as coal and crude oil, continues to be very high. Such a dependence on imports
has exposed our economy to the oil price and availability shocks that take place from time to time.
Disintegrating global frameworks for cooperation: The COVID pandemic has bolstered the prevailing inefficacy of
these organisations in arriving at unanimous decision and questioned their utility to address global challenges. Due
to vested interests and institutional inertia, consensus seems impossible and reforms remain elusive.
For instance, the Doha round of trade talks has been abandoned, while the expansion of permanent seats at the UN
Security Council appears unattainable.

WEAKNESSES AT HOME
Systemic constraints: Factors such as state's interference in foreign policy matters as in Teesta water agreement,
disrupted Indian economy post pandemic, lack of global competitiveness of Indian products and substandard
domestic investment in human capital hampers the full realisation of foreign policy.

Lack of resources for effective engagement with diaspora: Lack of authentic database, exclusion of low skilled
diasporic population, high number of unresolved greivances and lack of a clear diaspora policy hinders the effective
engagement with Indian diaspora.
RISE OF NON-TRADITIONAL CHALLENGES AND THREATS

Evolving maritime geopolitics of Indo-Pacific : Nature of the threats has expanded from the 'traditional', based on
hard-core power imbalances, to the 'non-traditional', such as climate change, piracy and other trans-national crime, illegal
fishing etc. thereby constraining the exploitation of opportunities.
Water and food security: The steady rise in the global population, finite resources like land and water, and anticipated
future decline in food productivity requires the alertness to this problem.
Nuclear weapons: The danger posed by an increasingly weaponized world, including proliferation of nuclear weapons
technology is a challenge. The US-Russia nuclear weapons roll back programme and the Iranian nuclear deal are in disarray
posing an uncertain security scenario.
Pandemics, drug trafficking and human trafficking are among the other major problems that the international
community needs to work together to curb the fallout of these issues.
New and emerging technologies: Technology and the Internet have created a whole new spectrum of sub-conventional
security challenges to democracies and open societies like India. Infodemics are being touted 'as great a threat as
pandemics'.

TECHPLOMACY: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

AS A PILLAR OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has recently announced the establishment of the New, Emerging and Strategic
Technologies (NEST) division that will engage in 'tech diplomacy'. The NEST division is tasked to provide policy guidance
on how India can shape international rules related to emerging technologies, navigate competition over strategic supply
chains to capture a larger share of global technology flows, align India's domestic technology policies with international
regimes.
CHALLENGES FOR INDIA'S TECH DIPLOMACY
Managing Technology Interdependence with China: Chinese investors are the largest actors in India's technology land-
scape. India needs a long-term plan to continue to attract investments from China, restrict some markets where national
security is at stake, use legal and regulatory tools to obtain technology and know how, and create oversight mechanisms.
Navigating Global Technological Protectionism: These relates to new export controls, sanctions regimes, and a broader
instinct to guard technology ecosystems that are fast emerging that can have uncertain implications for Indian interests.
For instance US announced a new export control regime for geospatial imagery software.
Global Data Governance: The subject of data flows is fast becoming a contested issue of global governance. India would
need to align its domestic policy positions on data governance with international policy tools.
Norms, Standards and Rule-Making: Lack of India's unified approach augurs poorly for its capacity to participate in
norm-setting processes with international institution around a range of esoteric technologies.
WAY AHEAD FOR INDIA
Responsibilities for NEST: NEST must be empowered to connect domestic policymaking on data governance, fabrication
facilities, AI research and more with its bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Mapping India's Technological Dependencies: India must build capacity to identify its position in the technology value
chain, dependencies on critical imports, and the risk it faces from foreign or international rules.
Leveraging on global tech partnerships: India has established partnerships with Japan and Finland on AI and robotics,
with Israel on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and with Australia on cyber technology. These partnerships must be
supported by clearing domestic bureaucratic roadblocks, improving the ease of setting up enterprises, and easing
tax - regimes.
Harnessing India's Technological strengths: Harnessing the potential of critical areas such as Fintech and Biotech can
cement India's leadership credentials and can translate into Indian influence in the global tech landscape.
Joint development of technology standards in critical technology areas: This entails reaching out to other techno-
democracies to develop and push forward credible standards at international standard- setting bodies.
The recently proposed T-12 (or the Technology 12) alliance is a perfect platform in this direction.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE MAJOR FOCUS AREAS FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN
POLICY TO NAVIGATE THE TURBULENT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT?

Tactful dealing with china: Even as India continues to engage with China to promote better understanding on border
management, trade, climate change, global governance and a host of other issues of mutual interest, it needs to put in
place a robust strategy to defend its territorial integrity and its interests in the region and the world.
Mindful efforts in Pakistan: While preparing to meet any eventuality, India must continue to reinforce its efforts to see
Pakistan emerge as a stable, secure and prosperous democracy.
Expanding the domain of strategic autonomy: Expansion of India's strategic autonomy demands a re-orientation of its
foreign policy towards mobilising the larger constituency of developing countries and emerging economies with which
it has convergent interests and advance them through reinforcing multilateral institutions and processes.
Pursuit of multi-alignment: It enables India to overcome the risks by combining national strengths and external
relationships in a virtuous interaction where all major relationships, centered on strategic convergence remain positively
in play so that one can be used to make gains in the other.
Dropping the risk aversion strategy and adopting greater realism: A traditional and low-risk foreign policy on the
grounds of nation's material weakness, was only likely to produce limited rewards. In contrast, when India acted boldly,
it was able to enjoy spectacular gains.
For instance, the 1998 nuclear tests forced the world to accept India's nuclear weapons program and opened the door to
its eventual integration into the global nuclear order.
Secure its national interests: It includes for instance: securing our borders to protect territorial integrity, countering
cross-border terrorism, energy and food security, cyber security, non-discriminatory global trade practices, equitable
global responsibility for the protection of environment, reform of institutions of global governance to reflect the
contemporary realities, disarmament, regional stability, international peace and so on.
This will require working and building concerts and alliances with the like-minded.
Focusing on self-development: Accelerating economic reforms domestically, strengthen India’s institutions, preserve its
constitutional ethos, and protect the nation’s internal cohesion, and improving on social development indicators such as
malnutrition, illiteracy and healthcare can cement India’s progress externally.
Engaging diaspora population: One of the major objectives is to engage them and derive maximum benefits from
their presence abroad, while at the same time protecting their interests to the extent possible.
Nurturing a feminist dimension in its neighbourhood first policy: India's regional policies remain predominantly a
masculine affair. India will be able to better achieve its regional interests by adopting a feminist approach in areas like
HADR, refugee policies, health policies, economic cooperation etc.
Playing a bridging role: India has the potential to serve as a bridge between the established and emerging orders and
can play a leadership role in enhancement of the international rule of law in order to reinforce multilateralism and
enhance global governance capabilities.

CONCLUSION

India's foreign policy has evolved and changed over the last seventy years, usually at a steady pace, but sometimes drastically to
respond to fast changing global or regional scenario. India has been fortunate to enjoy good growth and prosperity for the last
three decades. This has provided greater leverage to India's foreign policy, and allowed far greater resources to be allocated for
the conduct of diplomacy, including consolidating and strengthening our diplomatic presence all across the globe. India has
clearly demonstrated its will to play a leading role in the global arena and be counted as 'pole' in its own right. Continued stability
and prosperity at home and political consensus on broad foreign policy parameters, will help India reach its goal.
 TOPIC AT A GLANCE

Foreign Policy is a set of principles and decisions, adopted and used by a nation for conducting relations with
other nations and all international actors with a view to secure the defined goals of her national interest.

INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY GOALS

Protect India Create an external environment Ensure that India's voice is Engage and
from traditional and which is conducive for India's heard and India is able to influence protect Indian
non-traditional threats. inclusive development. world opinion on global issues. Diaspora.

CORE PRINCIPLES AND FEATURES SPECIFIC THRUST AREAS OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY IN
OF INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY THE PRESENT TIME

FIVE PRINCIPLES UNDER PANCHSHEEL FORMS Prioritizing an integrated neighbourhood through

THE BASIS OF FOLLOWING FEATURES: Neighbourhood First Policy and Outreach towards
extended neighbourhood
Opposition to Export of Ideologies and Change of
Regimes or violation of territorial integrity. Leveraging international partnerships to promote
India's domestic development which includes Strategic
India does not endorse unilateral sanctions /military
Balancing of relations between major powers, Outreach
actions
to middle powers etc.
Intervention over interference in internal affairs of
other countries. Ensuring a stable and multipolar balance of power
through its commitment to multilateral and plurilateral
Constructive Engagement over Aggression solutions and emphasising on a rules-based international
Strategic Autonomy order.
Advancing Indian representation and leadership on
Global Consensus on Issues of Global Dimensions
matters of global governance with its ethos of Vasudhaiva
Diplomatic Outreach leading to bilateral relationships and Kutumbakam.
partnerships. Leveraging Soft Power Potential in fields like spiritual-
ism, yoga etc. to advance India's global influence.

EMERGING CHALLENGES TO NEEDED FOCUS AREAS FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY TO

INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY GOALS NAVIGATE THE TURBULENT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Regional Instability due to factors like border disputes, Tactful dealing with China which entails constructive engage-
terrorism etc. ment and defending India's territorial integrity.
Non-conducive external environment as a result of rivalry Mindful efforts to stabilise Pakistan yet be prepared to deal
between major powers, Russia-Ukraine war among other with any eventuality.
reasons. Expanding the domain of strategic autonomy by engaging
Stressed global economic situation post COVID. with developing and emerging economies.
India's huge dependency for its energy security Pursuit of multi-alignment where all major relationships,
remain positively in play.
Disintegrating global frameworks for cooperation
Dropping the risk aversion strategy and adopting greater
Domestic Systemic constraints and lack of resources for realism.
effective engagement with Diaspora population
Secure national interests like border security, energy and
Rise of Non-traditional challenges and threats like food security, non-discriminatory global trade practices etc.
maritime geopolitics of Indo-Pacific, Nuclear weapons,
Focusing on self-development by accelerating domestic
Pandemics and emerging technologies.
economic reforms, strengthening institutions, etc.
Nurturing a feminist dimension in its Neighbourhood
First policy to better achieve regional interests
Playing a leadership role in enhancement of the interna-
tional rule of law.