Foreign Policy of India

India’s foreign policy refers to the strategy that governs India’s relations with other countries to promote its national interests — security, prosperity, and global standing.

It is shaped by multiple factors:

• Geography: India’s location between the Middle East and East Asia gives it immense strategic value.
• History & Tradition: Ancient ideals like Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah influence India’s worldview.
• Social structure: Diversity within India affects how it interacts with others.
• Political organisation: Democratic and secular character defines India’s image abroad.
• Economic & military strength: Determines India’s ability to assert influence.
• Leadership: Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Modi have all left distinct marks

⚖️ Core Principles of India’s Foreign Policy

Let’s go step by step through each principle — you’ll see how they interlink to form a consistent philosophy of peace, independence, and cooperation.

1. Promotion of World Peace

• The Constitution (Article 51) directs the State to:
  • Promote international peace and security
  • Maintain just and honourable relations
  • Respect international law and treaties
  • Encourage settlement of disputes through arbitration

➡️ India believes peace is essential for development — both national and global.
That’s why India always supports diplomacy over war — whether it was during the Korean War, Gulf War, or even recent conflicts like Russia–Ukraine.

2. Anti-Colonialism

India’s own experience under British rule made it a natural opponent of colonialism and imperialism.

• India supported freedom movements in Indonesia, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, Namibia, etc.
• It opposed all forms of neo-colonialism, where economic or political control replaces direct rule.

🟩 Philosophy: No nation should dominate or exploit another.
This position made India a moral leader among newly independent Afro-Asian countries.

3. Anti-Racialism

India opposes all forms of racial discrimination.

• It condemned South Africa’s apartheid policy.
• In 1954, India cut diplomatic ties with South Africa in protest.
• Supported liberation of Zimbabwe and Namibia from white minority rule.

🟨 Idea: Racialism and colonialism both hinder human equality and world peace.

4. Non-Alignment

One of the most distinctive features of Indian foreign policy.

After independence, the world was divided between:

• USA-led Capitalist Bloc
• USSR-led Communist Bloc

India refused to join either and followed a policy of Non-Alignment.

Nehru’s Vision:

“India will keep away from power politics of groups aligned against each other. Our aim is to help avoid war, not prepare for it.”

Meaning of Non-Alignment:

1. No military alliances with any bloc.
2. Independent and issue-based foreign policy.
3. Friendship with all nations.

🕊️ It was not neutrality (indifference), but positive non-alignment — India actively promoted peace and decolonisation through diplomacy.

5. Panchsheel – The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

Formulated in 1954 in the Indo-China Treaty on Tibet signed by Jawaharlal Nehru and Chou En-Lai.

Five Principles:

1. Mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
2. Non-aggression.
3. Non-interference in internal affairs.
4. Equality and mutual benefit.
5. Peaceful coexistence.

🌏 Impact:
Panchsheel became a guiding philosophy of international relations and was later endorsed by countries like Burma, Indonesia, and Yugoslavia.

Together, Panchsheel and Non-Alignment became India’s greatest contributions to world diplomacy.

6. Afro-Asian Bias

India shares historical and emotional solidarity with Afro-Asian nations, most of which were victims of colonialism.

India’s initiatives:

• Hosted Asian Relations Conference (1947) in New Delhi.
• Supported Indonesian independence (1949).
• Played a major role in Bandung Conference (1955) → foundation of Afro-Asian unity.
• Contributed to formation of SAARC (1985), Group of 77 (1964), BIMSTEC (1997), IORA (1997).

🟩 Hence, India earned the tag “Big Brother” in South Asia — symbolising leadership among developing nations.

7. Links with the Commonwealth

In 1949, India chose to remain in the Commonwealth of Nations, even after becoming a republic.
This was a unique decision — India accepted the British Crown only as a symbolic head of the Commonwealth, not as its ruler.

• Membership did not affect India’s sovereignty or republican status.
• It was guided by pragmatic considerations — economic, cultural, and diplomatic cooperation.

India plays an active role in CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) and even hosted the summit in New Delhi, 1983.

8. Support to the United Nations (UNO)

India joined the UN in 1945 and has consistently supported its aims and principles.

India’s Role in the UN:

1. Fought against colonialism, apartheid, and imperialism.
2. Vijay Lakshmi Pandit became the first woman President of the UN General Assembly (1953).
3. Actively participated in UN Peacekeeping Missions – Korea, Congo, Somalia, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Yugoslavia, etc.
4. Co-chaired UN Working Group on Reform and Strengthening of the UN (1997).
5. Served multiple times as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and now demands permanent membership.

🟨 India sees the UN as a legitimate platform to advance global peace, justice, and multilateralism.

9. Disarmament

India is strongly against the arms race and supports complete disarmament, especially nuclear.

• It hosted a six-nation summit in 1985 for nuclear disarmament.
• Refused to sign NPT (1968) and CTBT (1996) due to their discriminatory nature — allowing only 5 nations to possess nuclear weapons.

👉 India advocates universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory disarmament.

🔶 Major Doctrines and Policies

Let’s now look at key doctrines that reflect India’s evolving foreign policy in different eras.

1. Gujral Doctrine (1996)

Formulated by I.K. Gujral, then Foreign Minister (later Prime Minister).

Core Idea:
India, as the largest country in South Asia, should maintain friendly relations with neighbours through non-reciprocity — giving more than it expects in return.

Five Principles:

1. With neighbours (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka), India should act in good faith, without demanding reciprocity.
2. No country should allow its territory to be used against others in the region.
3. No interference in each other’s internal affairs.
4. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
5. Disputes must be settled through peaceful bilateral negotiations.

🟩 Purpose:
To build trust and contain the influence of Pakistan and China by ensuring “total peace” with other neighbours.

2. India’s Nuclear Doctrine

India officially released its nuclear doctrine in 2003.

Main Points:

1. Maintain a credible minimum deterrent.
2. No First Use (NFU) — nuclear weapons used only in retaliation.
3. Retaliation will be massive to inflict unacceptable damage.
4. Only the civilian leadership (via Nuclear Command Authority) can authorise use.
5. No use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states.
6. Option to retaliate with nuclear weapons in case of biological or chemical attack.
7. Strict control on nuclear exports and continued moratorium on tests.
8. Commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world through global disarmament.

Nuclear Command Authority (NCA):

• Political Council – chaired by PM; sole authority to order nuclear use.
• Executive Council – chaired by National Security Advisor; implements directives and provides strategic inputs.

3. Connect Central Asia Policy (2012)

A strategic initiative to deepen ties with the five Central Asian Republics — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Key Elements:

1. Regular high-level visits and political dialogue.
2. Security cooperation — counter-terrorism, military training, research.
3. Multilateral engagement through SCO and Eurasian Economic Community.
4. Energy partnership — oil, gas, uranium.
5. Cooperation in medicine and healthcare.
6. Support for a Central Asian University (Bishkek).
7. e-Network for tele-education and telemedicine.
8. Promote construction and infrastructure projects by Indian companies.
9. INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) for land connectivity.
10. Encourage Indian banks to expand in the region.
11. Improve air connectivity and people-to-people exchange.

🎯 Goal: Reconnect with India’s extended neighbourhood and balance China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

4. Act East Policy (2014)

Upgraded version of the Look East Policy (1992) introduced by P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Core Focus: Deepen engagement with Southeast and East Asia — moving from “looking” to “acting.”

Key Features:

1. Expand cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region — economic, cultural, and strategic.
2. Strengthen India–ASEAN partnership in trade, manufacturing, smart cities, and Make in India.
3. Develop strategic ties with Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and others.
4. Use North-East India as a bridge to ASEAN.
5. Revive civilizational links through Buddhism and Hinduism.
6. Enhance connectivity — roads, railways, and digital networks linking India with ASEAN.
7. Strengthen trade — ASEAN-India Trade in Services & Investment Agreement (2015).
8. Promote maritime security, counter-terrorism, and freedom of navigation in Indo-Pacific waters.

🟩 Vision: Position India as a key player in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthen ties with emerging Asian powers.

🧭 Conclusion — Philosophy of India’s Foreign Policy

India’s foreign policy reflects a rare blend of idealism and realism.
From Nehru’s non-alignment to Modi’s multi-alignment, the core aim remains the same —
peace, sovereignty, and development through cooperation.

“India’s foreign policy is not about power projection — it’s about moral leadership, equality, and peaceful coexistence.”

Today, India’s diplomacy rests on three pillars:

1. Strategic autonomy – independent decisions based on national interest.
2. Global partnership – active role in G20, Quad, BRICS, SCO.
3. Human-centric diplomacy – rooted in compassion, development, and democracy.

Thus, the Indian foreign policy continues to evolve — from non-alignment to multi-alignment, while staying anchored to its constitutional vision of peaceful coexistence and global harmony.