Chapter 13 – India’s Foreign Policy
Q1. What is foreign policy?
Foreign policy is a country’s strategy to manage relations with other nations, aiming to protect national interest, promote peace, trade, and diplomatic cooperation.
Q2. What are the main objectives of India’s foreign policy?
Sovereignty protection, economic development, world peace, anti-colonialism, non-alignment, and promotion of global justice.
Q3. Who formulates India’s foreign policy?
The Prime Minister, Ministry of External Affairs, National Security Advisor, and bureaucrats shape and implement India’s foreign policy.
Q4. What is the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)?
NAM is a group of countries that chose not to align with any major power bloc during the Cold War, promoting independence and peaceful coexistence.
Q5. Why did India follow non-alignment?
To maintain strategic autonomy, avoid Cold War politics, and focus on development and peace without being drawn into military alliances.
Q6. Who were the founders of NAM?
Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Tito (Yugoslavia), Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia), and Nkrumah (Ghana).
Q7. What are Panchsheel Principles?
Five principles of peaceful coexistence agreed by India and China in 1954, including mutual respect, non-aggression, and non-interference.
Q8. What was India’s role in the UN?
India supported decolonisation, world peace, peacekeeping missions, and reforms in global governance, demanding a permanent UNSC seat.
Q9. How has India contributed to UN Peacekeeping?
India has been one of the largest contributors, sending troops and medical teams to several missions worldwide since the 1950s.
Q10. What was India’s policy towards Pakistan?
India tried bilateral dialogue, signed the Tashkent and Simla Agreements, but relations remained tense due to wars and terrorism.
Q11. What was India’s response to China’s 1962 war?
India suffered defeat, re-evaluated its defense policy, and increased military preparedness and border security.
Q12. What was the Indo-Soviet Treaty (1971)?
A 20-year treaty of peace, friendship, and cooperation with the USSR, ensuring Soviet support during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Q13. How did the Cold War affect India’s foreign policy?
India remained non-aligned but leaned towards the USSR in later years, balancing superpower influence while promoting global peace.
Q14. What was India’s role in the Bangladesh Liberation War?
India supported East Pakistan’s independence, gave shelter to refugees, and militarily intervened, leading to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
Q15. How has India-USA relationship evolved?
From suspicion during the Cold War to strategic partnership in defense, nuclear energy, trade, and tech cooperation post-1990s.
Q16. What is the Look East Policy?
Initiated in the 1990s to enhance political, economic, and cultural ties with Southeast Asian countries, later upgraded to Act East Policy.
Q17. What is the Act East Policy?
India’s proactive foreign policy to deepen engagement with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, and Pacific nations through trade and security cooperation.
Q18. How has India engaged with Africa?
India promotes South-South cooperation, offers developmental aid, trade, and cultural exchange with African nations through forums like the India-Africa Summit.
Q19. What is India’s policy on Israel and Palestine?
India supports a two-state solution, maintains historic support for Palestine while developing defense and technology ties with Israel.
Q20. What is India’s energy diplomacy?
India builds relations with oil-rich countries, especially in the Gulf and Central Asia, to secure energy supplies for economic growth.
Q21. What is India’s position on nuclear weapons?
India follows a no-first-use policy, supports global disarmament, and developed nuclear capability for strategic deterrence.
Q22. What is the CTBT and India’s stance?
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests. India hasn’t signed it, citing security concerns and unfair global nuclear order.
Q23. What is SAARC’s role in India’s foreign policy?
SAARC provides a platform for regional cooperation, but India’s efforts are often limited by tensions with Pakistan.
Q24. What is India’s Neighbourhood First Policy?
India prioritizes strong relations with neighboring countries through aid, trade, and infrastructure projects to maintain regional stability.
Q25. How has India handled cross-border terrorism?
India uses diplomatic pressure, counter-terror operations, intelligence cooperation, and seeks global support to isolate terrorist networks.
Q26. What is the Quad Alliance?
A strategic alliance between India, USA, Japan, and Australia promoting a free Indo-Pacific and balancing China’s influence.
Q27. What is economic diplomacy?
Using trade, investment, and economic aid as tools of foreign policy to strengthen international relations and national interest.
Q28. What is India’s role in climate diplomacy?
India participates in global climate talks, promotes solar energy, and advocates for climate justice for developing countries.
Q29. What is the Indian diaspora’s role in foreign policy?
The Indian diaspora enhances soft power, contributes to remittances, and strengthens diplomatic and cultural ties globally.
Q30. Why is strategic autonomy important to India?
India wants to maintain independence in decision-making without becoming a satellite of any superpower, ensuring national interest and global respect.