EVOLUTION OF INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Genesis of India’s Foreign Policy

• Pre-Independence Era:

• • • Foreign policy controlled by British interests.
    • Limited diplomatic engagement, mostly through British channels.
    • INC raised global awareness for anti-colonial solidarity.

• Post-Independence Vision:

• • Led by Jawaharlal Nehru: Focus on strategic autonomy, peaceful coexistence, and non-alignment.
    

Phases in India’s Foreign Policy Evolution

Nehruvian Era (1947–1964)

• • Panchsheel Principles: Mutual respect, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, peaceful coexistence.
  • Founding member of UN and active in decolonization and disarmament.

• Key Events:

• • NAM leadership
  • Sino-Indian War (1962) – focus on defense modernization.
  • Closer ties with USSR
    

Lal Bahadur Shastri Era (1964–66)

• 1965 Indo-Pak War over Kashmir.
• Tashkent Agreement signed in USSR.
• Food security diplomacy via PL 480 with the USA.
  

Indira Gandhi Era (1966–77, 1980–84)

• 1971 War & Birth of Bangladesh – rise of India as regional power.
• Indo-Soviet Treaty (1971) – military and diplomatic alignment.
• Nuclear Test (1974) – entry into nuclear club.
• SAARC formation (1985) initiated.
  

Rajiv Gandhi Era (1984–89)

• Sri Lanka Intervention – Indo-Lanka Accord (1987).
• Air India bombing (1985) – rise in transnational terrorism concerns.
• Early economic reforms – prelude to liberalization.
  

Post-Cold War Realignment (1990s)

• • LPG Reforms (1991): Shift to economic diplomacy.
  • Look East Policy (1991): Strengthen ties with ASEAN & East Asia.

• Gujral Doctrine:

• • Non-reciprocity with neighbours.
  • Respect for sovereignty, peaceful settlement of disputes.
• WTO Membership (1995).
• Nuclear Tests (1998): Strategic assertion despite global sanctions.
  

NDA-I (1998–2004) – Atal Bihari Vajpayee

• Pokhran-II (1998) nuclear tests reaffirmed strategic autonomy.
• Kargil Conflict (1999) – defended territorial integrity.
• US Outreach – Clinton’s 2000 visit marked thaw in Indo-US ties.
  

UPA-I & II (2004–14) – Manmohan Singh

• India-US Civil Nuclear Deal (2008) – ended nuclear isolation.
• India-China Border Cooperation (2013) – limited success.
• Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh (2014).
• UNSC Reforms push and strategic cooperation with ASEAN.
• Continued Look East Policy + India-ASEAN FTA (2010).
  

NDA-II & NDA-III (2014–Present) – Narendra Modi

• Neighbourhood First Policy: Strengthening ties with SAARC & IOR nations.
• Act East Policy: Enhanced strategic engagement in Indo-Pacific.
• SCO Membership: Broadened regional influence.
• India-US Strategic Partnership: Defense, trade, and technology cooperation.
• Climate Diplomacy: Key role in Paris Agreement, ISA (International Solar Alliance).
• G20 Presidency & Global South voice (2023).
• Vaccine Maitri during COVID-19 showcased global responsibility.
  

Determinants of India’s Foreign Policy

• Geopolitical Location – Indian Ocean, China-Pak proximity.
• Strategic Autonomy & Non-Alignment.
• Economic Interests – trade, FDI, energy security.
• Diaspora Diplomacy – leveraging Indian communities abroad.
• Global Multipolarity – balancing ties with US, Russia, China.
  

Key Shifts and Themes

Era	Key Focus
1947–1964	Non-alignment, peace, anti-colonialism
1965–1989	Regional assertion, Indo-Soviet axis
1990s	Economic Diplomacy, Multilateralism
2000s	Strategic partnerships (US, ASEAN)
2014–Present	Neighbourhood First, Act East, Global South