Key facts

  • Constitutional Determinants of Foreign Policy — India's foreign policy rests on Article 51 DPSP (five directives)
  • Neighbours First Policy — Prioritises relations with all SAARC neighbours
  • Act East Policy — Launched 2014; evolved from "Look East" Policy (1991) — Deepens strategic, economic, and cultural ties with Southeast and East Asia
  • Diaspora Diplomacy — Indian diaspora (PIOs + NRIs): approximately 32 million across 110+ countries — largest globally
  • India-US Relations — Cold War estrangement → "comprehensive global strategic partnership" today — Anchor agreement: 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    Constitutional Determinants of Foreign Policy

    • India's foreign policy rests on Article 51 DPSP (five directives)
    • Promotion of international peace and security
    • Maintenance of just and honourable relations between nations
    • Respect for international law and treaty obligations
    • Settlement of international disputes by arbitration
  2. 2

    Neighbours First Policy

    • Prioritises relations with all SAARC neighbours
    • Covers Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan
    • Premise: regional stability is prerequisite for India's economic growth and security
    • Rooted in and extending the Gujral Doctrine (1996)
  3. 3

    Act East Policy

    • Launched 2014; evolved from "Look East" Policy (1991)
    • Deepens strategic, economic, and cultural ties with Southeast and East Asia
    • Operates through ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and bilateral partnerships
    • India-ASEAN trade: $130+ billion (2023)
  4. 4

    Diaspora Diplomacy

    • Indian diaspora (PIOs + NRIs): approximately 32 million across 110+ countries — largest globally
    • Remittances: $125 billion (2023) — world's largest remittance recipient
    • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention held annually on 9 January
    • Key leverage in USA, Gulf, UK, Mauritius, and Southeast Asia
  5. 5

    India-US Relations

    • Cold War estrangement → "comprehensive global strategic partnership" today
    • Anchor agreement: 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement
    • Defence foundational agreements: COMCASA (2018), BECA (2020), GSOMIA
    • iCET (2023): semiconductors, AI, space, quantum cooperation
  6. 6

    India-Russia Relations

    • Time-tested strategic partnership since 1971 Friendship Treaty
    • Russia: India's largest defence supplier (≈50% of imports)
    • S-400 Triumf air defence system: contract 2018, delivery 2021–22, despite US CAATSA threat
    • Bilateral trade target: $100 billion by 2030
  7. 7

    India's G20 Presidency (2023)

    • Presidency: December 2022 to November 2023
    • New Delhi Summit (9–10 September 2023) produced the New Delhi Declaration
    • Historic: African Union admitted as permanent G20 member
    • Announced IMEC; India showcased as "Vishwamitra" (friend of the world)
  8. 8

    India-China Relations

    • Bilateral status: "Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership" — competitive yet cooperative
    • Bilateral trade: $136 billion (2023) despite tensions
    • Galwan Valley clash (June 2020): 20 Indian soldiers killed; 200+ Chinese apps banned
    • October 2024: buffer zones created at 4 friction points — partial normalisation
  9. 9

    India-Pakistan Relations

    • Structured around terrorism, Kashmir, and nuclear deterrence
    • Major incidents: Parliament attack (2001), 26/11 Mumbai (2008), Uri surgical strike (2016), Pulwama-Balakot (2019)
    • Pakistan grey-listed by FATF (2018–2022); India suspended MFN status post-Pulwama
    • Indus Waters Treaty (1960) talks suspended by India post-Pahalgam attack (2025)
  10. 10

    Cultural Diplomacy

    • International Yoga Day: 21 June; established by UN December 2014; 190+ countries
    • ICCR (est. 1950): 37 cultural centres in 29 countries; 3,200+ scholarships annually
    • Buddhist Circuit + Nalanda University revival: soft power in Buddhist Asia
    • Bollywood and Indian cuisine as global cultural reach instruments
  11. 11

    India in Multilateral Institutions

    • UNSC non-permanent member 8 times (most recently 2021–22)
    • Founding member of NAM; active in G20, BRICS, SCO (full member 2017), QUAD
    • Part of IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, 2022) — alternative to China-dominated supply chains
    • Advocates permanent UNSC seat as part of UN reform agenda
  12. 12

    Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

    • Sanskrit phrase from Maha Upanishad meaning "The world is one family"
    • Philosophical foundation of India's G20 Presidency theme (2023)
    • Articulates India's civilisational approach to international relations
    • Contrast with Western balance-of-power or transactional foreign policy models

What determines India's foreign policy?

India's foreign policy is determined by constitutional ideals, geography, history, economic needs, security imperatives, and the pursuit of strategic autonomy.

1.1 Conceptual Framework

Foreign policy is the sum total of goals, strategies, and actions a state pursues in relations with other states and international organisations.

India's foreign policy blends two traditions:

  • Idealism: Nehru's Panchsheel, Gandhian values, non-alignment
  • Realism: national interest, strategic autonomy, power balancing

Panchsheel - Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence

Agreed between India and China in the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between Tibet Region of China and India (29 April 1954):

  1. Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty
  2. Mutual non-aggression
  3. Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs
  4. Equality and mutual benefit
  5. Peaceful co-existence

These principles were incorporated into NAM's foundation documents and the UN Charter spirit. Ironically, China violated these principles in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

1.2 Constitutional Mandate

Article 51 DPSP - India's constitutional directive on international relations:

  • Promote international peace and security
  • Maintain just and honourable relations between nations
  • Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations
  • Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration

Other constitutional provisions: Parliament legislates on foreign affairs, treaties, and international organisations under the Seventh Schedule, Union List, Entries 13-16. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) under the PM/Cabinet system has operational control.

1.3 Determinants of Indian Foreign Policy

Structural and Geographical

  • India's peninsular position at the heart of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) - connecting the Persian Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and East Asia
  • Land borders with 7 countries: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan
  • Coastline: 7,516 km; EEZ: 2.37 million sq km
  • Himalayan frontier - natural barrier and source of disputes with China and Pakistan

Historical and Civilisational

  • India as a civilisational state - Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism spread across Asia; historical Silk Road connections
  • Colonial experience - suspicion of Western-dominated institutions; solidarity with developing nations
  • Partition trauma - Kashmir dispute unresolved; Pakistan as a structural challenge

Economic

  • Energy security: India imports around 85% of its oil needs (mainly from the Gulf, Russia, and Iraq); energy diplomacy is central
  • Trade: Total goods trade around $1.6 trillion (2023); FTAs signed with UAE, Australia (2022); ongoing with EU, UK
  • Development cooperation: ITEC programme; Lines of Credit (LoC) extended to 60+ countries

Strategic and Military

  • Nuclear weapons state (declared 1998, Pokhran-II): No First Use (NFU) + "credible minimum deterrence"
  • Defence budget: According to PIB and the Ministry of Defence, the Regular Union Budget 2024-25 allocated Rs 6,21,940.85 crore, about US $75 billion, to the Ministry of Defence - the highest allocation among Union ministries.
  • IOR strategy: countering China's "string of pearls" with India's "necklace of diamonds"

PREDICTED Predicted RAS Questions

Based on PYQ trends and 2026 syllabus analysis

1 5M What are the key principles of India's "Neighbours First" policy? 5 marks · 50 words

Model Answer

~50 words • 5 marks