India's Foreign Policy Notes for UPSC

A country's foreign policy is the set of principles and actions by which it deals with other countries and international organisations to protect its interests. India's foreign policy has evolved from the ideals of the freedom struggle into a pragmatic and multi-directional approach. International Relations is a scoring part of the UPSC Civil Services Examination: Prelims asks about doctrines, policies and agreements, and Mains (GS Paper 2) asks about India's strategic choices, relations with big powers and the neighbourhood. This note explains the basics and evolution of India's foreign policy in simple language.

Constitutional Basis and Objectives

Article 51 of the Directive Principles of State Policy directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, respect international law and treaty obligations and encourage settlement of disputes by arbitration. The subject of foreign affairs is in the Union List, so only the Centre can decide it, and treaties are made by the executive, although Parliament makes the laws to implement them (Article 253). The main objectives are to protect national security and territorial integrity, to promote economic growth, to safeguard the Indian diaspora, to strengthen energy and food security and to gain a fair place in global decision-making.

Principles of Indian Foreign Policy

• Panchsheel: the five principles of peaceful coexistence agreed with China in 1954: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
• Non-Alignment: staying away from military blocs in the Cold War and taking independent decisions, a policy led by Jawaharlal Nehru. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was founded in Belgrade in 1961 by Nehru, Nasser, Tito, Sukarno and Nkrumah.
• Anti-colonialism and anti-racism: support for freedom movements in Asia and Africa and strong opposition to apartheid in South Africa.
• Peaceful settlement of disputes and support for the United Nations.
• Strategic autonomy: the freedom to take decisions based on national interest.

Evolution of Foreign Policy: Phases

Important Doctrines

The Gujral Doctrine (1996) by I. K. Gujral said that India would not ask for reciprocity from smaller neighbours and would give them what it could in good faith. The Indira Doctrine held that South Asian matters should be settled without outside power intervention. The Look East Policy of 1992 became Act East Policy in 2014, aiming at deeper links with ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. The Neighbourhood First Policy gives priority to ties with immediate neighbours through connectivity, trade and development help. Think West and the Link West Policy improved links with the Gulf region, Israel and Iran. The Extended Neighbourhood idea covers Central Asia ("Connect Central Asia") and the Indian Ocean ("SAGAR" and later "MAHASAGAR").

Current Approach: Multi-Alignment

Today, India follows the policy of multi-alignment or issue-based alignment: it builds ties with several powers at once, without joining one camp. India is a member of the Quad with the USA, Japan and Australia, but also of BRICS and the SCO. It buys defence equipment and energy from Russia while expanding technology and defence ties with the USA, France and Israel. This approach is described by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as "advancing national interest through many partnerships". It is also called strategic autonomy, since India does not accept pressure from any power. In a world of rivalry between the USA and China, and with the war in Ukraine and tensions in West Asia, this flexibility has helped India protect its energy needs and its voice.

Tools of Foreign Policy

Diplomacy is the main tool and is conducted by the Indian Foreign Service under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Soft power includes culture, yoga, cinema, Ayurveda, the International Day of Yoga, scholarships by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Economic diplomacy uses trade deals, lines of credit and development projects. The diaspora, with over 30 million people of Indian origin, supports the country through remittances, which are the highest in the world, and through political influence. Humanitarian help and disaster relief show India as the first responder, as in Operation Dost to Turkey and Syria in 2023. Defence diplomacy uses joint exercises and defence exports.

India and Global Governance

India demands a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council. It is a member of the G20 and held its presidency in 2023, when the African Union became a permanent member of the group. India is a leader of the Global South, as seen in the "Voice of Global South Summit". It is part of climate and energy platforms such as the International Solar Alliance. It supports a rules-based order, freedom of navigation and the peaceful solution of disputes in the Indo-Pacific.

Challenges

The main challenges are the border dispute and rising power of China, the hostile behaviour of Pakistan and cross-border terrorism, instability in the neighbourhood (Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh), balancing relations between the USA and Russia, protecting energy supply, the safety of Indians abroad, and the need to improve economic and military strength to back up diplomacy. Another point is the need for more diplomats, since the Indian foreign service is small compared with the size of the country.

How to Write a Mains Answer on Foreign Policy

Begin with the principle or the doctrine that the question is about. Show how it changed over time with two or three dates. Give the present approach with a recent example. Add a short evaluation: strengths such as strategic autonomy and weaknesses such as uneven progress with neighbours. Close with a way forward, such as strengthening connectivity, economic ties, soft power and defence capacity. A short and structured answer with the right keywords always scores better than a long and general one.

India and the Major Powers: A Quick View

India's relations with each major power have a different base. With the United States, ties have grown through trade, technology, defence and the Indian diaspora, and the two countries cooperate in the Quad and on critical technologies, though issues like tariffs and visas create friction. With Russia, India has a long and trusted defence and energy partnership that goes back to the Cold War, and the relationship is called a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. With China, India has deep trade links but also a serious border dispute and mistrust, so the approach combines talks with caution. With the European Union, France, Japan and Australia, ties are growing in trade, defence and clean energy. With the Gulf countries, India has strong links for oil, jobs and remittances. A good Mains answer shows that India deals with each partner on its own merits, which is the real meaning of multi-alignment.

Role of Parliament and the Executive

In India, the executive, led by the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, makes and carries out foreign policy. Parliament does not need to approve a treaty before it is signed, but it passes laws needed to implement it and can discuss and question the policy through debates, questions and standing committees. Some experts argue that Parliament should have a stronger role in approving major agreements, as in some other democracies. Courts generally stay away from foreign policy decisions, but they ensure that treaties do not violate the Constitution or fundamental rights. This division of roles is useful to remember for polity-related questions that touch upon international relations.

Quick Revision

• Article 51 (DPSP) guides foreign policy; Panchsheel 1954; NAM 1961.
• Gujral Doctrine 1996; Look East 1992, Act East 2014; Neighbourhood First.
• Present approach: multi-alignment and strategic autonomy.

India's foreign policy is a mix of values and interests. Learn the timeline, keep the doctrines in a table, and follow the latest summits and visits, so that your answers are both historical and up to date.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• India and Its Neighbours Notes for UPSC
• India-China Relations Notes for UPSC
• Global Groupings Notes for UPSC
• All International Relations notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is foreign policy?

Foreign policy is the set of principles and strategies a country follows in dealing with other countries to protect its national interests.

Which article of the Constitution deals with foreign policy?

Article 51 in the Directive Principles of State Policy asks the State to promote international peace and security and just relations between nations.

What is Panchsheel?

Panchsheel refers to the five principles of peaceful coexistence signed between India and China in 1954.

What is the policy of non-alignment?

It is the policy of not joining any military bloc during the Cold War and taking independent decisions based on national interest, led by Jawaharlal Nehru.

What is the Gujral Doctrine?

The Gujral Doctrine of 1996 is a set of principles under which India gives help to smaller neighbours without expecting reciprocity.

What is the difference between Look East and Act East policy?

Look East (1992) focused on economic links with Southeast Asia, while Act East (2014) is a more active policy that also includes strategic and security cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries.

What is the Neighbourhood First policy?

It is a policy that gives priority to relations with India’s immediate neighbours through connectivity, trade and development partnership.

What is strategic autonomy?

Strategic autonomy means the ability of a country to take foreign policy decisions on its own interests, without depending on or being pressured by other powers.

What is multi-alignment?

Multi-alignment is a policy of building partnerships with many countries and groupings at the same time, based on issues and national interest.

What is soft power?

Soft power is the ability to influence others through culture, values, education and attraction rather than force, such as yoga and Indian cinema.

Who is responsible for India’s foreign policy?

The Ministry of External Affairs, led by the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Secretary, along with the Prime Minister’s Office, manages India’s foreign policy.

What is the Non-Aligned Movement?

NAM is a group of states that did not formally align with any major power bloc during the Cold War. It was founded in Belgrade in 1961.