Indian Foreign Policy: Background, Objectives, Principles, Phases-UPSC Notes

Indian Foreign Policy has always reflected the core values and aspirations of India. One of the favorite subjects of civil service aspirants is Indian Foreign Policy. A proper understanding of its principles will guide them in understanding the diplomatic, economic, and geopolitical strategy pursued by India. This article will provide an all-inclusive and thorough guide into Indian Foreign Policy with its evolution, principles, and major initiatives.

India's foreign policy upsc is being put to the test in terms of options and partners in the international system. In recent decades, India has adopted a more expansive foreign policy that includes the SAARC-embodied neighborhood first strategy as well as the Look East Policy to create more wide economic and strategic partnerships with other East Asian countries.

However, the current situation in Ukraine, as well as the deep splits it has caused in the international community, raises new concerns about India’s foreign policy. This topic is important for the UPSC Mains syllabus under GS Paper 2. Study this article on Indian Foreign Policy, which is one of the most important topics under Indian Polity for UPSC Exams.

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What is a Foreign Policy?

Foreign policy refers to a country's plan in handling other nations. It dictates how countries will relate and collaborate. It is made up of trade, peace, and security objectives. Foreign policy aids the formation of inter-country relationships. Governments use it to protect their interests and global understanding.

Background of Indian Foreign Policy

• At the time of nation-building, there were issues of war, reconstruction of an international body, and the emergence of new countries due to the end of colonialism.
• India had to deal with the dispute of partition and the task of poverty alleviation.
• India decided to respect the sovereignty of all the Nations to achieve security by maintaining peace in its conduct of foreign relations.
• Both domestic and international factors influenced the foreign policy of India like lack of resources and the economic dependence on more powerful countries.
• India formed its policy against the backdrop of cold war development.

Objectives of Indian Foreign Policy

• Build strategic partnerships with the neighbors and major world powers like the USA, the EU, Japan, Russia and China.
• To safeguard India’s fundamental national interests and concerns in a swiftly changing global environment.
• Intensify the global anti-terrorism effort and ensure that cross-border terrorism is brought to an end.
• Enhance the benefits of India’s Act East Policy and strive for real advancement in a number of sectors of mutual relevance for India and ASEAN.
• Generate economic growth by assisting regional organizations such as BIMSTEC, IBSA and IOR-ARC.
• To work towards attaining the goal of nuclear disarmament.

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Principles of Indian Foreign Policy

India’s Foreign Policy is based on peace, non-alignment, and respect for international laws. It focuses on mutual respect, cooperation, and national interest in global relations. The following are some of the major principles of the Indian foreign policy:

Non-Alignment

• India follows a policy of non-alignment. This implies it does not align itself with any military alliance or power bloc.
• Non-alignment gives India independence and sovereignty. This enables it to pursue its national interests without succumbing to any pressure from external sources.

Panchsheel

• Panchsheel is the "Five Principles" that guide Indian foreign policy.
• These include respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other states, non-aggression, non-interference in other's internal affairs, equality, and peaceful coexistence.

Peaceful Coexistence

• India believes in peaceful coexistence with other nations. It promotes the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
• It focuses on the aspect of diplomatic, dialog, and negotiations approaches to sustain friendship and avert armed conflict.

Mutual Respect and Equality

• India values mutual respect and equality in its interactions with other countries.
• It respects all nations irrespective of their size and power, and so do others respect India.
• It adheres to sovereignty and independence principles in its foreign policy.
• Respect for other countries' sovereignty: It respects the sovereignty of other nations. At the same time, it also expects respect from others, with independent decisions according to the country's interests.

Cooperation for world peace and stability

• India supports the cause of peace, stability, and cooperation worldwide.
• It supports international initiatives and organizations which advocate for peace, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

Economic Diplomacy

• The foreign policy of India contains economic diplomacy as a core policy.
• It has an objective of improving trade, investment, and economic relations with other countries for both parties' mutual interest and economic progress.

Cultural Diplomacy

• India upholds its excellent cultural heritage and traditions through the medium of cultural diplomacy.
• It undertakes cultural exchanges and promotes people-to-people contacts. It projects its rich traditions and arts on the world platform.

Regional Cooperation

• India is an active participant in regional cooperation efforts, including SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
• It aims at building regional integration, connectivity, and cooperation for shared prosperity.

Global Partnerships

• India is building strategic partnerships with countries all over the world.
• It cooperates with other like-minded countries on various issues that include security, countering terrorism, climate change, and technology. This is to address common challenges and promote shared interests.

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Multi-Alignment & Strategic Autonomy in a Polarized World

India's approach to foreign policy has transitioned from non-alignment, reflective of the Cold War, to a modern approach of strategic autonomy supported by multi-alignment. This framework enables India to engage with multiple power blocs - the U.S., Russia, China, and the EU - independently of any single bloc, which provides greater maneuverability in a world increasingly characterized by polarization. Dubbed a "bridge, not blocks" approach, which best enables India to serve as a stabilising actor in a multipolar world.

This transformation corresponds with India's pragmatic rejection of unilateralism in favour of strategic partnerships which enable resourcing with partners from the Indo-Pacific and beyond. India has developed significantly stronger defense and trade ties with the U.S. through collaborative operational initiatives such as the Quad and the Major Defense Partnership, which formalises concepts of ports of call and reciprocal provisioning of services.

Determinants of Indian Foreign Policy

The determinants of India’s foreign policy shape the way India interacts with the world. These factors guide decisions on diplomacy, trade, and global partnerships. These determinants of India’s foreign policy help India protect its national interest while promoting peace and development globally.

National interests

• In general, every country attempts to improve its economic and social growth in order to secure the well-being of its citizens. Because each country is at a distinct stage of development, policies must be tailored to fit.
• Every country conducts foreign policy to advance its national interests. Some national interests have not altered over time, while others have.
• Foreign policy is also affected by the level of development of a country.
• To achieve its development ambitions, India relies largely on domestic consumption and overseas investment. India’s foreign policy is also consistent with these development aspirations.

Geographical factors

• A country’s geography is one of the most consistent components of its foreign policy.
• The primary geographical characteristics that influence foreign policy are its location, land topography, climate, and fertility.

Domestic factors

• Nations having a large number of people and non-human resources are often big powers, and they have a better chance of becoming big powers in the international community.
• A state’s resources include both human resources (its population) and non-human resources.
• As a result, its size has a significant impact on its foreign policy.

Regional Environment

• Regional events also play a role in determining foreign policy. For example, in 1971, the coalition of China, the United States, and Pakistan created a crisis situation for India, which prompted India to turn toward Russia.
• At the moment, China’s growing supremacy is another cause for the deepening of India-US relations.
• With Look East to Act East initiatives and China’s ascent in ASEAN, India has enhanced its capacity and power.

Economic Development

• Economic sovereignty is critical in determining foreign policy. India, like its strategy, had to open its markets in 1991, but since then, India has become a financial powerhouse.
• Many countries have expressed interest in India’s economic progress. Today, India is a significant energy consumer, with countries such as Turkmenistan, Iran, and Russia forming economic partnerships with it. However, India’s fundamental issue is its negative trade balance with China.

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Phases of Indian Foreign Policy

The stages of Indian foreign policy indicate its changing global role since independence. From non-alignment to strategic partnerships, each stage represents the evolving priority of Indian diplomacy and its ambitions for global influence.

Navigating the Cold War: Non-Alignment (1947-1962)

It was clear that India wanted to hold the line between the powers of the Cold War. It advocated a leadership role in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Non-alignment was an intentional effort to frame the space for identifying peaceful coexistence within a globally fractured world.

Pragmatism and Assertion: A Decade of Adjustment (1962-1971)

After the war in 1962, India had changed course towards a realistic direction. The scattered foreign policy picture in the world required India to actively engage and participate to protect its interests. This was an important evolution that led to increased assertiveness and other active regional and global foreign policy initiatives.

Regional Power Shift: A Defining Moment (1971-1991)

As well, nuclear tests by both Bangladesh and India, underscored India's position at the regional leadership table. The collapse of the Soviet Union shifted the global map, and Indian foreign policy was affected in the direction it took.

Maintaining Independence: Safeguarding Strategic Autonomy (1991-1998)

India has chosen to remain a strategically independent nation in this US-dominated unipolar world. The entire period has, therefore, been one of wise engagement with the major powers at the same time as building internal security and economic self-reliance.

Balancing Interests: Emergence of a Multi-Aligned Player (1998-2013)

India became a balancing power, so it made strategic alliances on issues such as the US nuclear deal. It also collaborated with China in issues related to trade and climate change. Ties with Russia continued being part of this multi-pronged approach.

Expanding Engagement: A Dynamic Present and Future (2013-Present)

In the current era, India's foreign policy thrives on active engagement. Building deeper strategic partnerships, fostering regional connections, and leveraging external relations are the hallmarks of this dynamic phase.

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Recent Developments in Indian Foreign Policy

Recent developments in Indian foreign policy have focused on global challenges. Among these are the balancing of relations with Russia and the U.S. and border tensions with China. The Indian goal is regional stability.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

India has been neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war. It supports a peaceful resolution and dialogue. Both ties with Russia and the U.S need to be equally balanced. India continues to buy Russian oil despite Western sanctions. It can thus meet energy needs while going through diplomatic competition

India-China Border Tensions

To reduce the tensions at the Line of Actual Control, India and China have agreed upon some agreements. Disengagement is on its way. India is skeptical about China's influence is spread more. The border needs to be further secured along with better infrastructure so as not to repeat such skirmishes.

G20 Leadership

India had the G20 presidency, where it focused on global challenges like climate change and economic recovery. It promoted inclusive development and technology sharing. India focused on cooperation between nations to address global issues. This leadership strengthened India's global standing.

Strengthening Ties with Neighboring Countries

India is trying to promote cooperation with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. It is investing in infrastructure and trading initiatives. These development programs are targeted for regional cooperation and vis-à-vis China's influence. The most prominent of these initiatives is the India-Nepal railway.

Energy Security through Diplomacy

India expands its energy relationship with the Gulf states. MoUs on renewable energy and crude oil import. Diplomatic steps taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of energy. All this is critical to India's ever-growing energy requirements.

Climate Diplomacy

It focuses more on climate change mitigation. It supports renewable energy and global cooperation. International Solar Alliance is one of the initiatives that are really at the forefront of this international effort. India tries to maintain development and sustainability.

Quad Alliance

India actively engages with the U.S., Japan, and Australia as part of the Quad alliance. Its efforts primarily revolve around regional security within the Indo-Pacific. This organization fights the dominance that China exercises. Coordinated work among technology, trade, and maritime security are top priorities for these members.

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Assertive Diplomacy & Global Realignment

India has been increasingly engaging in assertive diplomacy to protect its national interests. The India–U.S. defense partnership was upgraded in 2025 with plans to expand military cooperation in new domains such as space and cyber, while still relying on Russian defense systems today. Meanwhile, India began its largest naval exercises in Africa, while establishing multiple strategic partnerships to push back China's influence in the Indian Ocean.

At the same time, deeper geopolitical shifts are providing India with strategic opportunities to fully exercise its maritime security and influence in the region - such as the possible transfer of the Chagos Archipelago back to Mauritius.

Challenges to Indian Foreign Policy

Indian foreign policy faces challenges like border tensions, global power shifts, and balancing ties with rival nations. Managing regional stability and energy security also remains complex.

• International foreign policy plays across a world platform; it should continuously learn from changes taking place around the external world. In such instances, disintegration of the Soviet Union of Socialist Republics (USSR) and other socialist countries dramatically shifted foreign policy changes.
• The highly industrialized countries, which have had centuries to get a head start on the route to progress and prosperity, are the fundamental cause of the current scenario.
• Unfortunately, in the absence of skilful diplomacy, established polluters aim to impede rising and developing economies’ economic paths by imposing mitigation measures that are unfair to those who began industrialization later.
• The world’s stretched water situation is deteriorating by the day, with the problem being most serious in huge expanding countries such as India, which has a burgeoning population and an ever-increasing need for water.
• Terrorism is unconcerned about international borders. Regardless of domestic efforts, addressing this global menace will be difficult without international cooperation.
• While our coal reserves are sufficient, the fact that it is not a particularly clean source of energy and that we lack adequate amounts of high calorific value coal necessary in vital industries such as steel manufacturing forces us to turn to other available sources such as oil and gas.
• However, the threat posed by a more armed world, especially the spread of nuclear weapons technology, appears to be an issue with no fast answer.
• The issue of the New International Economic Order, the issue of international resource distribution, the energy crisis, the protection of human rights, the issue of nuclear proliferation, the elimination of international terrorism, and other issues have all played significant roles in India’s and other developing countries foreign policy decisions.
• One of the biggest challenges is maintaining strategic autonomy in an era of increasing geopolitical pressure. For example, India maintained a neutral position in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, to the extent that it was importing large amounts of Russian oil - Western sanctions notwithstanding - which led to tensions with Western countries and tariffs being imposed by the U.S., but India had used these actions to protect its energy security and economic sovereignty.
• India's ability to remain independent in decision-making increasingly enters the spotlight as tensions between the U.S. and China rise

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Capacity Constraints: Indian Foreign Service and Diplomacy

India's ambitions regarding foreign policy often exceed its diplomatic capacity. The IFS is severely understaffed—only 1,011 cadre in total, with the vast majority of its officers in overseas positions—making strategic outreach and participation with other global powers impossible. This human resource deficit raises questions about whether India’s growing global footprint is sustainable without institutional reforms in diplomatic capacity.

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