Aspirant Academy

Polity, Governance and Current Affairs

Key Points at a Glance

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

Paper III · Unit 1 Section 1 of 11 0 PYQs 30 min
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Key Points at a Glance

  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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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