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Key Points at a Glance is part of the Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants, Major Powers, Neighbours, Diaspora and Cultural Diplomacy topic within Polity, Governance and Current Affairs. It is a guided section preview; free signup lets you claim one intro topic, and the first gated topic you open stays yours.

Is Key Points at a Glance relevant for the RAS exam?

Yes. Key Points at a Glance falls under Polity, Governance and Current Affairs in Paper III Unit 1 of the RPSC RAS syllabus and is directly aligned to exam-relevant sub-themes.

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Key Points at a Glance | Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants, Major Powers, Neighbours, Diaspora and Cultural Diplomacy

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Key Points at a Glance

Constitutional Determinants of Foreign Policy
- India's foreign policy rests on Article 51 DPSP (four explicit 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
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)
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)
Diaspora Diplomacy
- Indian diaspora (PIOs + NRIs): approximately 37.28 million overseas Indians in MEA's country-wise population table - the largest globally
- Remittances: $125 billion (2023) - world's largest remittance recipient
- Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9 January; the convention is organised periodically, not as a routine annual convention
- Key leverage in USA, Gulf, UK, Mauritius, and Southeast Asia
India-US Relations
- Cold War estrangement -> "comprehensive global strategic partnership" today
- Anchor agreement: 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement
- Defence foundational agreements: GSOMIA (2002), LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), BECA (2020)
- iCET (2023): semiconductors, AI, space, quantum cooperation
India-Russia Relations
- Time-tested strategic partnership since 1971 Friendship Treaty
- Russia: India's largest legacy defence supplier and a major current energy partner
- S-400 Triumf air defence system: contract 2018, delivery from 2021 onward, despite US CAATSA pressure
- Bilateral merchandise trade reached $65.70 billion in FY 2023-24; bilateral trade target: $100 billion by 2030
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 itself as Vishwamitra (friend of the world)
India-China Relations
- Bilateral status: competitive yet economically interdependent, with selective diplomatic engagement
- Bilateral trade: $136 billion (2023) despite tensions
- Galwan Valley clash (15 June 2020): 20 Indian soldiers killed; 200+ Chinese apps banned
- October 2024: patrolling arrangements at 4 friction points signalled cautious de-escalation, not final settlement
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 withdrew MFN status post-Pulwama
- Indus Waters Treaty (1960): India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack (2025)
Cultural Diplomacy
- International Yoga Day: 21 June; established by UN in December 2014; observed globally since 2015
- 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
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) - an alternative supply-chain and standards framework in the Indo-Pacific
- Advocates permanent UNSC seat as part of UN reform agenda
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