Aspirant Academy

Polity, Governance and Current Affairs

India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Key Initiatives

Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants, Major Powers, Neighbours, Diaspora and Cultural Diplomacy

Paper III · Unit 1 Section 7 of 11 0 PYQs 30 min
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India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Key Initiatives

6.1 Key Foreign Policy Doctrines

Nehru's Non-Alignment (1947–1964)

  • India as a founder of NAM (1961, Belgrade)
  • Rejected membership of Western or Soviet blocs
  • Championed decolonisation as a global cause

Indira Doctrine / Rajiv Doctrine (1970s–80s)

  • India as the regional hegemon in South Asia
  • Will intervene if external powers threaten regional stability
  • Operationalised in Sri Lanka (1987 IPKF) and Maldives (1988 Operation Cactus)

Gujral Doctrine (1996–97)

Five principles by PM Inder Kumar Gujral for South Asia:

  1. India will not ask for reciprocity from smaller neighbours
  2. Neighbours' territory not used for anti-India activity
  3. Non-interference in internal affairs
  4. Territorial integrity of all respected
  5. Bilateral disputes settled peacefully

This became the basis for India's asymmetric generosity toward SAARC neighbours.

Modinomics of Foreign Policy (2014–)

  • Neighbourhood First — expanded Gujral Doctrine (includes Myanmar)
  • Act East — upgraded from Look East; military dimension added
  • SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) — India's Indian Ocean strategy
  • Link West — deepened engagement with Gulf, Iran, Central Asia
  • Think West — Africa as a strategic partner
  • Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas extended to foreign policy as Global Good

6.2 India's G20 Presidency (2023)

Theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth, One Family, One Future"

Key outcomes of the New Delhi Summit (9–10 September 2023):

  1. African Union admitted as permanent G20 member (55 African states represented collectively)
  2. New Delhi Declaration unanimously adopted — including language on Ukraine (achievement given Russia-West divide)
  3. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced
  4. Global Biofuels Alliance launched — 19 founding members + 12 international organisations
  5. One Future Alliance for digital public infrastructure (DPI) — sharing India's UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker model globally
  6. 200+ G20 meetings held across 60 cities; Rajasthan hosted meetings in Jodhpur (culture), Udaipur (education), Jaisalmer (energy)

6.3 SAGAR — India's IOR Strategy

SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) was announced by PM Modi in Mauritius (2015).

Key pillars:

  • India as a "net security provider" in IOR
  • HADR role: India was first responder to Cyclone Ockhi (2017), 2004 Tsunami; Operation Samudra Setu during COVID-19
  • Island strategy: Deep relationships with Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, Madagascar; MAHASAGAR initiative (2025)
  • Counter to China's "string of pearls": India's "necklace of diamonds" — Chabahar port (Iran), Duqm port (Oman), Sabang Island (Indonesia), Hambantota-adjacent developments