TABLE OF CONTENTS

 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
 MAIN TEXT
o HISTORY OF INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY
 FIRST PHASE
 SECOND PHASE
 THIRD PHASE
 FOURTH PHASE
 FIFTH PHASE
 SIXTH PHASE
o INITIATIVES CONTRIBUTED IN STRENGTHENING FOREIGN POLICY
 ACT EAST POLICY
 NEIGHBOURHOOD FIRST POLICY
 INDIAN OCEAN OUTREACH
 PROJECT MAUSAM
 COOPERATION WITH PACIFIC ISLAND
 FAST TRACK DIPLOMACY

 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

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ABSTRACT

After World War II, many colonies began to gain their independence, building countries that
had been either destroyed by the war or plundered by their colonial rulers. Some of these newly
independent states opted for a constitutional democracy, while others were either dictatorial or
military, and some took a while to find some kind of stability. India was one of the biggest
colonies to gain independence, but it had to go through a terrible process when it was divided
into two parts in 1947. Now, it has a strong democracy built on a constitution that has been
protecting people's rights for the past 75 years, and it has a strong foreign policy.

A nation's foreign policy is the combination of its fundamental values, principles, objectives
and policies that it pursues in its relations with other nations. The main elements that influence
a nation's foreign policy are its cultural background, economic circumstances, geographical
location, past history, and the prevailing political situation within the nation and globally.
Foreign policy is a reflection of a nation's ideological posture in the world. It is important to
note that, as nothing is immutable, any policy, internal or external, will vary depending on the
context and perception of national interests.

This study looks at the goals of the BJP government under Narendra Modi since they came to
power in 2014, their foreign policy, and how it differs from previous governments. The
government wants to make India a major player in the region with policies like the East and
Neighbourhood First. To make the world a multipolar place, India has made it a priority to have
win-win relationships with countries that are strong in protecting India's interests, as part of the
idea of strategic autonomy, and to focus on soft power. It also looks at how diplomacy is being
used as a tool to influence India's inner circle and the global system, which is different from
previous governments.

Key words: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, Independence, Foreign policy, Democracy, BJP,
World War II.

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INTRODUCTION

India, a country which is diversified by culture, yet united by nation, therefore India's foreign
policy needs a set of guidelines that shape its interactions with other nations. Since
independence, at 75, India- a younger state and an older nation stands at a critical juncture in
its relationship with the world.

The world has changed immeasurably since India achieved its independence in 1947. We have
gone from a bipolar world dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union, to a short-
lived unipolar era dominated by American hegemony, to a bipolar competition between China
and the US that has been overshadowed by multipolar delusions.

In today’s unpredictable world, India must define its foreign policy brand and define the
parameters of its engagement to reconcile national interests with ethical principles.

Following BJP’S landslide victory in the 2014 general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
(BJP) and his government have demonstrated a renewed commitment to international relations.
Unlike his predecessor, Manmohan Singh, who had a tenuous first term in office, Modi has
made a number of foreign visits, attended a number of high-level summits, and sought to build
relationships with his counterparts in China, the United States, and South Asia. Additionally,
his government has revised key initiatives, such as 'Look East' to 'Act East', and initiated new
initiatives, including a renewed push to foster better relations with India's neighbours, with the
slogan of 'Neighbourhood First’.

Modi's foreign policy has shifted from a posture of non-alignment towards a posture of
assertiveness and proactivity towards the world. The prime focus has been on improving
relations with neighbours in South Asia, increasing connectivity and co-operation with the
extended neighbourhood in Southeast Asia, and building strategic partnerships with major
global powers. On the other hand, the government has faced difficulties in addressing the
China-Pakistan axis, which threatens India’s security and interests. In this article, we look at
the strengths and weaknesses of Modi’s foreign policy in a context of a shifting global order
and India’s ambitions as an emerging superpower.

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RESEARCH PROBLEM:

1) What is the foreign policy of Modi era?

2) What are the key initiatives taken by Modi government to improve India’s foreign
relations?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:

1) In order to gain information about the key initiatives took by Modi government to
improve India’s foreign relation.
2) In order to study the foreign policy of Modi era.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

The data used in this research is derived from secondary sources such as internet content, web
pages, literature, journals, case studies, etc. Hence the secondary method of research is used in
making this research paper.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS:

Foreign policy is a set of policies which are adopted to improve the relations of the countries
with each other, in the Modi era we can clearly see India’s relations are becoming strong with
other countries. I assume that this paper contains the details about the foreign policy followed
by the BJP government in Modi era.

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MAIN TEXT

HISTORY OF INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY

History of Indian foreign policy is divided into phases:

The First Phase (1947-62): Optimistic Non-Alignment:

 This period is characterized by a bipolar world with the US and the USSR leading the
way.
 During this period, India’s goals were to resist the erosion of its sovereignty, to rebuild
its economy and to consolidate its sovereignty.
 India was among the first countries to decolonize.
 As a result, it was only natural for India to be at their forefront of Asia and Africa in the
struggle for a more just world order.
 India played a crucial role in the formation of the Non-aligned movement (1961) which
marked the height of Third world solidarity.
 However, the conflict with China in 1962 not only marked the end of this phase but
also significantly weakened India’s position on NAM

The Second Phase (1962-71): Decade of Realism and Recovery.

 After the war, India opted for a pragmatic approach to security and political issues.
 For national security reasons, India sought non-alignment with the US, which is now
largely forgotten, and concluded a defence agreement in 1964.
 However, India was faced with external pressure on Kashmir (the Tashkent Agreement
1965) from the United States and the United Kingdom.
 India and Pakistan agreed to bring all armed forces back to pre-war levels, to re-
establish diplomatic relations, and to talk about economic, refugees, and other issues.
 The agreement did not include a no-war treaty and did not repudiate Pakistan’s
aggression in Kashmir (because Pakistan was a US ally).
 Thus, India started moving towards the USSR.

The third phase (1971-91): Greater Indian Regional Assertion

 When India liberated Bangladesh in 1971 during the war between India and Pakistan,
it was one of the most difficult times in India's history.

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  At the same time, the emergence of an axis of US, China, and Pakistan threatened
India's status as a regional power, and it faced sanctions from the United States and its
allies after conducting the Peaceful Nuclear Test in 1974.
 The collapse of the Soviet Union, India's closest ally, in 1991 forced India to re-evaluate
the fundamental principles of domestic and foreign politics.
 The combination of events such as the Persian Gulf War in 1991-1992, the breakup of
the Soviet Union in 1991, long-term economic stagnation, and domestic turbulence led
to a balance of payments crisis in India.

The fourth phase (1991-98): Safeguarding Strategic Autonomy

 The transition to a unipolar world, dominated by the United States, necessitated a shift
in India's approach to global affairs.
 This effort to achieve strategic autonomy was primarily focused on safeguarding its
nuclear capability (Pokhran II 1998), during which time India sought to strengthen its
engagement with the United States, Israel, and ASEAN.

This fifth phase (1998-2013): India, a Balancing Power

 During this period, India was gradually able to strengthen its position as a
counterweight to the rise of China, as evidenced by the India-US Nuclear Agreement
(123 Agreement).
 Additionally, India was able to establish a partnership with China on both climate
change and trade issues, as well as strengthen its ties with Russia while contributing to
the emergence of the BRICS as a major international platform.

The sixth phase (2013-until now): Energetic Engagement

The Modi era

 At a time of transition in geopolitics, India has shifted its policy from Non-Alignment
to Multi-Alignment.
 This shift comes at a time when India is more cognizant of its own potential and the
expectations of the world.
 The fact that India is one of the major economies in the world is a factor in this
transition. Additionally, India's expertise in the development and maintenance of global
technology is likely to become increasingly important in the future.

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  Furthermore, India's capacity to influence key global negotiations, such as the climate
change conference in Paris, is also of great importance.
 Furthermore, India has been able to expand its reach beyond South Asia through its
policies in the Indian Ocean Region, the extended neighbourhood, Act East policy, and
Think West policy.

INITIATIVES CONTRIBUTED IN STRENGTHENING FOREIGN POLICY

Initiatives taken by Modi government to strengthen the foreign policy of Modi era:

 ACT EAST POLICY

India's Act East Policy is a diplomatic strategy that seeks to foster economic, strategic
and cultural ties with the large region of Asia-Pacific. The Act East policy is the
successor to the Look East Policy, which was initiated in 1991 by the then Prime
Minister, P. V. Rao. The current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched the Act East
policy in 2014, describing it as a transition from “looking east” to “acting east.”
The Act East policy is a reflection of India’s recognition of the Asian-Pacific region as
an important region for its internal and external interests. The policy is based on four
pillars: Culture, Commerce, Connectivity, and Capacity Building. The aim of the Act
East policy is to strengthen India’s cultural ties, Trade and Investment, Infrastructure
and Connectivity, and Human Resource Development with the countries of the region.
As part of the act east policy, India has prioritized its relations with the key partner in
the region, ASEAN. ASEAN has been upgraded to a strategic partnership with India,
as well as with a number of its member countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam and
Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Australia.
The Act East policy has also broadened India’s involvement in other regional and multi-
regional fora, such as EAS, ARF, BIMSTEC, MGC and IORA. India’s act east policy
seeks to balance interests and values within a rapidly evolving global order, and to
strengthen India’s position and leverage as an emerging super power. The policy aims
to address challenges and opportunities arising from China’s rise, security threats posed
by terrorism and piracy in the region, environmental issues, disaster management and
development needs in the region, among others.

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 NEIGHBOURHOOD FIRST POLICY
India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) is India’s foreign policy initiative. It was
launched in 2014 with the aim of strengthening India’s relations with its neighbours in
South Asia. The NFP focuses on the development of a peaceful, prosperous and stable
neighbourhood through improved connectivity, economic cooperation and people to
people exchanges. India’s neighbourhood first policy focuses on the following:
o Prioritising India’s neighbours in terms of diplomatic engagement, high level
visits and development aid.
o Negotiating bilateral issues via dialogue and mutual agreement (e.g. land
boundary agreements with Bangladesh and maritime boundary agreements with
Sri Lanka).
o Strengthening regional integration and cooperation via platforms like SAARC
(South Asia Association Council), BIMSTEC (Bangladesh), IORA (IORA) and
BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives).
o Building interconnector projects in the region such as road, rail, port, pipeline
and power grids Strengthening trade and investment relations with neighbours
by lowering barriers and granting preferential access Encouraging capacity
building and technical collaboration in various areas such as education,
healthcare, agriculture, energy and space Providing humanitarian aid and
disaster relief to neighbours in times of distress.
o The Neighbourhood First Policy is based on the principle that India’s security
and prosperity are connected to the stability and growth of its neighbours.
o The policy seeks to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by
the evolving regional and global dynamics India’s ambition to play a key role
in shaping regional and international order.

 INDIAN OCEAN OUTREACH

India’s outreach policy to the Indian Ocean is part of India’s wider Indo-Pacific
strategy, which seeks to foster peace, stability and growth in the Indo-Pacific region.
India’s Indo-Pacific outreach policy is an expression of the country’s strategic interest
in the Indian Ocean, which is essential for India’s security and economic well-being. It
also reflects India’s commitment to working with its maritime neighbourhood and
partners.

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 India's policy has several components, including:
o Strengthening diplomatic relations with island states and small-scale countries
in the Indian Ocean, including Maldives and Sri Lanka; Mauritius; Seychelles;
Madagascar; Mozambique; and others; through high level visits, development
assistance and humanitarian aid
o Strengthening maritime security in the Indian Ocean providing naval patrolling,
naval training, intelligence sharing and capacity building to island states
o Establishing coastal surveillance radar systems, maritime information fusion
centres and other related facilities
o Encouraging regional integration and cooperation via platforms such as IORA,
IONS, IOC and BIMSTEC
Developing connectivity and infrastructural projects in the IOR; launching initiatives
such as SAGAR for security and growth for all in the region
Fostering cooperation in areas such as blue economy; disaster management; climate
change and maritime governance.
India’s outreach policy to the Indian Ocean is a reflection of India’s role and
responsibilities as a Net Security Providing country and a leading actor in the region.
The policy aims to align India’s priorities and values with the interests and concerns of
its partners, and to address challenges and opportunities arising from the evolving
regional and global circumstances.
 PROJECT MAUSAM
Mausam is an economic and cultural project undertaken by the Government of India. It
is a joint venture between the Government of India’s Ministry of Culture (MoC) and
the Indian Museum (NM) (ASI). The aim of the project is to link Indian Ocean countries
through the theme of ‘monsoon winds’, which has enabled them to exchange culture,
commerce and religion. This project was initiated in 2014 by the then Minister of
Culture (MoC), Ravindra Singh, at Doha World Heritage Session (38th Session) in
Qatar. The aim of this project is to nominate a Transnational Mixed Route (including
Natural and Cultural Heritage) on the World Heritage List (WHL) of the UNESCO.

The project’s main goals are to:

Reconnect the lost links and communication between the Indian Ocean world’s
countries Connect the region’s existing World Heritage sites

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 Reinvent the cultural landscapes by finding gaps and bridging them with new heritage
sites
Achieve cross-border World Heritage nomination through sustainable tourism, heritage
promotion, and cultural conventions
The scope of the project includes but is not limited to:
o Strengthening diplomatic relations with the Indian Ocean Island states and the
littoral countries such as Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles,
Madagascar, Mozambique, and other countries.
o Enhancing maritime security and domain knowledge in the Indian Ocean
through the provision of naval patrol, training, intelligence-sharing, and
capacity building in the Indian Ocean to the island states, as well as through the
establishment of regional integration and cooperation platforms such as IORA,
IONS, IOC, and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for multi-sectoral
technical and economic cooperation).
o Developing connectivity and infrastructural projects in and around the Indian
Ocean such as ports, railroads, pipelines, power grids, etc.
o As India’s largest net security provider (NSG) and a major player in the Asia-
Pacific region, Project Mausam represents India’s vision for the future. The
project aims to align India’s priorities and values with the interests and concerns
of its partners, while addressing the issues and opportunities of the evolving
regional and global environment.
 COOPERATION WITH PACIFIC ISLAND
Cultural and economic relations between India and the PICs date back to colonial times
and the immigration of Indian laborers to the region. In addition, India has been a strong
supporter of the PICs during their struggles for independence and sovereignty. In recent
times, India has stepped up its outreach to the PICs and has acknowledged their strategic
importance within the Indo-Pacific context and the common challenges and
opportunities they face.
India and the PICs work together on the basis of four pillars:
Culture, Commerce, Connectivity, and Capacity Building.
India has initiated a number of initiatives to strengthen its partnership with PICs,
including: FIPIC (Founded in 2014) The SAGAR (Secured, Aggregated, and
Reintegrated (SAFAR) initiative, launched in 2015 as a roadmap for maritime

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 cooperation and growth in the Indian Ocean IPOI (Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative)
Proposed in 2019 as a platform for collaborative action on 7 pillars:
maritime security; maritime ecology; maritime resources; capacity building; disaster
risk reduction; science and technology; and trade and connectivity

India's cooperation with PICs includes a wide range of sectors, including but not limited
to Health, Renewable Energy, Cyber Security, Education, Agriculture, Disaster
Management, Climate Change, Blue Economy, Humanitarian Assistance, Development
Assistance, Technical Cooperation, COVID-19 Vaccine Assistance, etc.
India's partnership with PICs is a mutually beneficial and respectful one. It seeks to
address the shared challenges and aspirations of the two sides and to bring peace,
stability and prosperity to the region. It is also a reflection of India's role and
responsibilities as a Net Security Providing Power and a leading Power in the region.

 FAST TRACK DIPLOMACY

The term ‘fast track diplomacy’ is a term used by the Ministry of External Affairs of
India to refer to the foreign policy initiatives undertaken by the Government of India.
The Government of India came to power in the year 2014. Fast track diplomacy is a
proactive, strong and sensitive approach to interact with the world and safeguard and
promote India’s national interest.
The key elements of the fast-track diplomacy are:
o Priority is given to the countries of South Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan and
Bangladesh, as well as Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the countries of
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
o Invited all the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) to his inauguration in Bhutan.
o Strengthened relations with Southeast Asia and its extended neighbourhood,
including Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore, as well as the countries of the
Indian Ocean, such as Mauritius and Seychelles.
o Developing strategic partnerships with the world's major powers, including the
US, China and Russia, as well as France and Germany, and hosting several
leaders in India in order to strengthen bilateral ties and address global issues.

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 o Expand India's involvement in regional and multilateral fora, including the East
Asia Summit, the ASEAN regional forum, the BRICS, SCO, G20 and the UN.
o Act East Policy and SAGAR (Secured and Growth for All) initiative to promote
connectivity, cooperation
Use India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power to strengthen India’s image and global
reach. - Promote India’s civilizational legacy and modern-day leadership through
initiatives such as Yoga Day, the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Gandhi’s 150th
birthday, and the Mausam Project.
India’s fast track diplomacy is a symbol of India’s self-assurance and self-determination
as an emerging super power. It seeks to align India’s interests and values with the
interests and values of its partners, and to tackle the challenges and opportunities
presented by the evolving regional and global dynamics.

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 CONCLUSION
India's foreign policy in the Modi era has shifted from non-aligned to multi-aligned,
neighbourhood and extended neighbourhood focus, strategic partnership with major
world powers, and proactive engagement with regional and multilateral fora. The
government has also used India's soft power & cultural diplomacy to improve its image
and global influence. The foreign policy objectives pursued by the government have
been pragmatic, flexible, and sensitive, while balancing the interests and values of the
government with the interests of its partners. The government has faced various
challenges & opportunities in the context of changing regional & global dynamics,
including the emergence of China, security threats from terrorism & piracy,
environmental challenges such as climate change & disaster management, and
development needs in the region. The government has faced these challenges &
opportunities with a sense of confidence and ambition, and has asserted its role &
responsibility as the net security provider & a leading power in Indo-Pacific. In this
way, the government has redefined & reinvigorated India's foreign policy according to
its national interests & global aspirations.

REFERENCES
 DRISTHTI IAS- www.drishtiias.com
 TIMES OF INDIA- timesofindia.indiatimes.com
 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 www.mea.gov.in

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