Key Principles, Strategies, and Global Perspectives of India’s Foreign Policy (For UPSC Civil Services Exam - Prelims + Mains)
Tactics of Indian Foreign Policy
1. Track-1 Diplomacy (Formal Diplomacy):
- Government-to-Government level formal dialogues.
- Includes Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors, etc.
- Example: India–U.S. 2+2 Dialogue.
2. Track-2 Diplomacy (Informal Diplomacy):
- Non-governmental level discussions involving retired diplomats, think tanks, academics, journalists, etc.
- Objective: To build mutual understanding on sensitive issues and advise governments.
- Example: India–Pakistan Track-2 dialogue.
3. Track-1.5 Diplomacy:
- Includes both government officials and non-governmental experts.
- Acts as a bridge between Track-1 and Track-2 diplomacy.
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Introduction:
- Established: 1961 at the Belgrade Conference.
- Founders: Nehru (India), Tito (Yugoslavia), Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia), Nkrumah (Ghana).
- Objective: To avoid alignment with any power bloc during the Cold War.
- Goals: Promotion of global peace, independence, and sovereignty.
India’s Role:
- India has been a principal founding member of NAM.
- Nehru promoted the Panchsheel Principles.
- India still considers NAM as the "voice of the Global South".
Cold War and India
Concept:
- Ideological, military, and political rivalry between the USA and the USSR post-World War II.
- Two major blocs: NATO (led by the USA) and Warsaw Pact (led by USSR).
India’s Policy:
- Adopted Non-Alignment.
- Took help from both blocs as required, while avoiding formal alliances.
Transition from Unipolar to Multipolar World
Unipolar World:
- After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the USA became the sole global superpower.
- Era marked by dominance of globalization, American culture, and military power.
Multipolar World:
- Emerging global powers: China, India, Russia, European Union.
- Greater diversity in global decision-making.
- India supports a “Multipolar, Multilateral, Multi-option” world order.
Other Significant Aspects of India’s Foreign Policy
1. Panchsheel Principles (1954):
Five principles of peaceful coexistence with China:
- Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Non-aggression.
- Non-interference in internal affairs.
- Equality and mutual benefit.
- Peaceful coexistence.
2. Contemporary Strategies:
- Act East Policy
- Neighbourhood First Policy
- Indo-Pacific Strategy
- Becoming the Voice of the Global South
9 Tracks of Diplomacy in Foreign Policy
|
Track
|
Name
|
Features
|
|
Track 1
|
Formal Government Diplomacy
|
G2G talks involving PM, President, Foreign Minister, Ambassadors. Eg: India–US 2+2 Dialogue.
|
|
Track 1.5
|
Semi-official Diplomacy
|
Govt officials + Think tanks/experts. Collaborative in policymaking.
|
|
Track 2
|
Informal Diplomacy
|
Non-officials like retired diplomats, academics, think tanks. Eg: India–Pakistan informal dialogues.
|
|
Track 3
|
People-to-People Diplomacy
|
Civil society, NGOs fostering ties. Eg: cultural/religious exchanges.
|
|
Track 4
|
Media Diplomacy
|
Creating positive image via media; projecting soft power. Eg: Doordarshan, BBC.
|
|
Track 5
|
Business Diplomacy
|
Engagement via business/trade bodies. Eg: CII, FICCI.
|
|
Track 6
|
Activism-Based Diplomacy
|
Grassroot organizations and NGOs working on issues like human rights, environment, education.
|
|
Track 7
|
Academic Diplomacy
|
Exchange of ideas via universities, research institutions. Eg: Joint academic conferences, research projects.
|
|
Track 8
|
Religious/Spiritual Diplomacy
|
Dialogue among religious leaders promoting world peace. Eg: Buddhist, Sufi, Interfaith dialogue.
|
|
Track 9
|
Digital/Cyber Diplomacy
|
Using digital platforms/social media. Eg: Twitter Diplomacy, Digital India’s global outreach.
|
Why is this Important for UPSC?
- GS Paper 2 (IR): Discusses India’s multilateral and multitrack diplomacy.
- Essay Paper: Topics like Global Diplomacy, Soft Power, India’s Global Role.
- Prelims: Factual questions based on diplomacy tracks are asked.
Soft Power vs. Hard Power (For UPSC Prelims + Mains)
|
Element
|
Soft Power
|
Hard Power
|
|
Definition
|
Power of attraction via culture, values, and policies.
|
Power of coercion through military or economic pressure.
|
|
Sources
|
Culture, foreign policy, media, education, religion, yoga, Bollywood.
|
Military strength, weapons, wars, sanctions, coercive diplomacy.
|
|
Goal
|
Persuasion through attraction.
|
Compulsion through pressure.
|
|
Impact
|
Long-term, positive, sustainable.
|
Immediate, short-lived, sometimes negative.
|
|
Examples (India)
|
Yoga Day, popularity of Bollywood, Buddhism, Ayurveda, Indian democracy.
|
Surgical Strikes, Balakot Airstrike, Defence deals, economic aid to neighbours.
|
|
Usage
|
Cultural diplomacy, educational exchange, people-to-people ties.
|
Military alliances, arms exports, economic sanctions.
|
India’s Use of Both Powers
|
Power
|
India's Strategy
|
|
Soft Power
|
Promoting "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", International Yoga Day, Vaccine Maitri.
|
|
Hard Power
|
Border deployments against China/Pakistan, defence procurements, strategic partnerships.
|
What is Smart Power?
- Definition: Strategic combination of Soft Power and Hard Power.
- Coined by: Joseph Nye (2004).
- Goal: Crafting an effective, practical, and sustainable foreign policy.
Key Features:
|
Feature
|
Description
|
|
🎯 Objective
|
Influence, not domination; use of both diplomacy and force.
|
|
🧰 Tools
|
Culture, diplomacy, military power, economy, tech innovation.
|
|
🕊️ Balance
|
Preference for peace and persuasion, but readiness for force when needed.
|
India and Smart Power
|
Area
|
Examples
|
|
Soft Power
|
International Yoga Day, Buddhism, Bollywood, Vaccine Maitri, Digital India, G20 Presidency.
|
|
Hard Power
|
Surgical Strikes, Balakot Strike, BrahMos exports, LAC military build-up.
|
|
Smart Power
|
QUAD, Indo-Pacific strategy, balancing US-Russia ties, economic + cultural diplomacy in Africa and ASEAN.
|
Why is Smart Power Important?
- The world is becoming multipolar.
- Neither culture alone nor military alone is enough.
- Democracies like India need both persuasive and coercive tools.
- Complex issues like climate change, terrorism, cybersecurity need multi-dimensional approaches.
UPSC Mains Questions (Examples)
Q1. “Smart power is the ability to combine hard power of coercion with soft power of attraction into a successful strategy.” — Joseph Nye
Explain the concept of Smart Power and evaluate India’s use of it in global diplomacy.
Q2. Evaluate the balance between soft power and hard power in India’s foreign policy.
UPSC Prelims – 5 Practice MCQs
- Which of the following is an example of Track-1 diplomacy?
A) Official visit by Foreign Minister
B) Seminar by a Think Tank
C) TV Debate
D) NGO meeting
🟩 Answer: A
- When was the Panchsheel Agreement adopted?
A) 1950
B) 1954
C) 1962
D) 1947
🟩 Answer: B
- Where was the first Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit held?
A) New Delhi
B) Cairo
C) Belgrade
D) Havana
🟩 Answer: C
- "Act East Policy" is mainly associated with which region?
A) Africa
B) Europe
C) East Asia and ASEAN
D) Gulf Countries
🟩 Answer: C
- What is India’s role in a multipolar world?
A) Only an observer
B) Passive country
C) Strategic partner
D) Opponent
🟩 Answer: C
Topic Related Videos ⬇️
