explain how Indians foreign policy became more comprehensive and dynamic in the second stage I.e 1991
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Answer:
and interdependence between nations across the globe has enhanced the need
for healthy diplomatic relations amongst all countries. Today, a sound and strategic foreign policy is
crucial for having a voice in international platforms, for effective trade and investments, and for achieving
consistent domestic progress.
India’s foreign policy has developed greatly since independence. Policies for forming global interactions
progressed from being principled to goal-driven and objective orientated.
Post-independence, India’s agenda revolved primarily around fostering new relationships with
colonial and ex-colonial nations to encourage peace and cooperation in light of international disputes
such as the Cold War.
Significant conflicts with neighbours like China and Pakistan led to necessary changes in India’s
foreign policy, with the country no longer remaining neutral in its relations. Ties with the USA, Soviet
Union, and several other countries were in constant flux due to the allegiances formed during both the
Sino-Indian and the Indo-Pakistani wars. It was this shift that led to greater military preparedness
and development of more agenda-driven foreign policies.
The 1991 industrial policy saw India turning to a mixed economy, thereby transforming its economic
and trade policies with the outside world. This greatly opened up opportunities for employment and
manufacturing in the country, and created a new avenue for cooperation and interaction with several
countries of the world.
2. Current Development in India’s Foreign Policy
The recent government has been making active efforts to expand India’s diplomatic footprint, foster
strong international ties, and use these global relationships for mutual advantage and progress. This
method of ‘fast track diplomacyi
’ brought in by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government involves a
much more concentrated and proactive approach to building close ties than was witnessed in earlier
timesii. This is achieved through an increased number of personal visits by the Hon’ble Prime Minister,
Mr. Narendra Modi to neighbouring and other countries, as well as increased participation in regional
and international conferences and summits.
2
This dynamic approach involves targeted outreach and interactions in order to achieve specific goals that
have been set for the nation. These objectives include –
2.1 Improved relations with neighbouring countries
India shares its boundaries with nations including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Maldives,
Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Currently, the Central Government has greatly emphasized the
need to prioritize ties with its immediate neighbours. This prioritisation is being implemented through
two core approaches namely, the ‘Neighbourhood Firstiii
’ and ‘Act East’ policies.
‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy
This policy of the government aims to improve interactions with its immediate neighbours and the
Indian Ocean island states. It achieves various goals through a holistic approach to regional foreign
policy.
Connectivity is a big facet of this policy, with India entering into Memorandums of
Understanding (MoU) with members of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) for cooperation in areas of trade, infrastructure, commercial
linkages and transit facilities. These agreements ensure a free flow of resources, energy,
goods, labour, and information across borders.
Resource support by India to its neighbours is another vital component of this approach
in terms of financial aid, equipment, human resource training and diplomatic alliances.
For example, India provided immense assistance, in the form of over 1,700 tonnes of relief
material and medical assistance, to its neighbour Nepal in
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