International Relations: July 2021 Current Affair | UPSC Mains: International Relations PDF Download

 Page 1


 
16                                                                                                                                                        
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
2.1. STRATEGIC AUTONOMY 
Why in news? 
Recently, Foreign Secretary of India listed the five 
pillars of Indian diplomacy for strategic autonomy & 
global good. 
More in news 
The five pillars of Indian Diplomacy are: 
• Multipolar focus: India places Neighborhood 
First, Act East and Think West and has revitalized 
its approach to these policies. 
• Diplomacy as an international force multiplier 
for the Government: The Ministry of External 
Affairs is the global arm of the government and 
has a global footprint and presence. 
o Indian diplomacy must be able to work with 
domestic partners and bridge them with 
international interests to exploit the 
opportunities that will inevitably arise. 
• Force for global good: This pillar ensures 
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action. 
o For example, India’s efforts in ensuring global vaccine supply through Vaccine Diplomacy.  
• Futuristic Outlook: It promotes efforts at rebalancing including our endeavor to participate in the search for 
solutions to common problems.  
o For example, despite our development needs, India has shown strong commitment to climate action. 
• Indian in thought: Indian diplomacy is guided by bearings that arise from Indian thinking influenced over 
centuries by Kautilya’s Arthshastra or ancient texts such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagvad Gita. Three 
strands of Indian diplomacy worth mentioning here are: 
o Tradition of the Middle Path. 
o Human-centric globalization. 
o Need for strategic autonomy. 
What is Strategic Autonomy? 
• Strategic autonomy denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred 
foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.  
• India and Strategic Autonomy: 
o In bipolar or multipolar world orders dominated by globalization, the ability to be strategically 
autonomous is not absolute but only relative.  
o Based on this, India is destined to be even less strategically autonomous.  
o Core security issues: India resist external pressure to change its policy or moderate its interest on core 
issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. 
? For example, core national interests like Jammu & Kashmir issue and nuclear weapons.  
o Non-core security issues: Under external pressure, India is likely to alter their policy or moderate their 
interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the 
benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest.  
? For example, India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency under 
the pressure of United States. 
 
 
Non-Alignment & Strategic Autonomy 
• In appearance, the two are different – the one non-
alignment, the other multi-alignments; the one is 
relevant in the bipolar world, the other in the 
multipolar world; the one where India acted as a key 
leader of the South, the other where India is a leader 
among select powers (both Global South and among 
today’s major power centers). 
• In essence, the two are similar in the sense that both 
assume India would judge issues and relations on 
merit, not on the dictates of other powers. Strategic 
Autonomy is all about issue-based alliances. 
Strategic Autonomy & Self-reliance 
• Unlike in the past, self-reliance today is not about 
retreating from the world, but of enhancing India’s 
economic contribution to the global economy.  
• Self-reliance is about empowering India and the 
speedy realization of its full national economic 
potential. 
• When Self-reliance is applied to foreign policy 
framework, it comes closer to “strategic autonomy”. 
Page 2


 
16                                                                                                                                                        
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
2.1. STRATEGIC AUTONOMY 
Why in news? 
Recently, Foreign Secretary of India listed the five 
pillars of Indian diplomacy for strategic autonomy & 
global good. 
More in news 
The five pillars of Indian Diplomacy are: 
• Multipolar focus: India places Neighborhood 
First, Act East and Think West and has revitalized 
its approach to these policies. 
• Diplomacy as an international force multiplier 
for the Government: The Ministry of External 
Affairs is the global arm of the government and 
has a global footprint and presence. 
o Indian diplomacy must be able to work with 
domestic partners and bridge them with 
international interests to exploit the 
opportunities that will inevitably arise. 
• Force for global good: This pillar ensures 
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action. 
o For example, India’s efforts in ensuring global vaccine supply through Vaccine Diplomacy.  
• Futuristic Outlook: It promotes efforts at rebalancing including our endeavor to participate in the search for 
solutions to common problems.  
o For example, despite our development needs, India has shown strong commitment to climate action. 
• Indian in thought: Indian diplomacy is guided by bearings that arise from Indian thinking influenced over 
centuries by Kautilya’s Arthshastra or ancient texts such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagvad Gita. Three 
strands of Indian diplomacy worth mentioning here are: 
o Tradition of the Middle Path. 
o Human-centric globalization. 
o Need for strategic autonomy. 
What is Strategic Autonomy? 
• Strategic autonomy denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred 
foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.  
• India and Strategic Autonomy: 
o In bipolar or multipolar world orders dominated by globalization, the ability to be strategically 
autonomous is not absolute but only relative.  
o Based on this, India is destined to be even less strategically autonomous.  
o Core security issues: India resist external pressure to change its policy or moderate its interest on core 
issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. 
? For example, core national interests like Jammu & Kashmir issue and nuclear weapons.  
o Non-core security issues: Under external pressure, India is likely to alter their policy or moderate their 
interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the 
benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest.  
? For example, India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency under 
the pressure of United States. 
 
 
Non-Alignment & Strategic Autonomy 
• In appearance, the two are different – the one non-
alignment, the other multi-alignments; the one is 
relevant in the bipolar world, the other in the 
multipolar world; the one where India acted as a key 
leader of the South, the other where India is a leader 
among select powers (both Global South and among 
today’s major power centers). 
• In essence, the two are similar in the sense that both 
assume India would judge issues and relations on 
merit, not on the dictates of other powers. Strategic 
Autonomy is all about issue-based alliances. 
Strategic Autonomy & Self-reliance 
• Unlike in the past, self-reliance today is not about 
retreating from the world, but of enhancing India’s 
economic contribution to the global economy.  
• Self-reliance is about empowering India and the 
speedy realization of its full national economic 
potential. 
• When Self-reliance is applied to foreign policy 
framework, it comes closer to “strategic autonomy”. 
 
17                                                                                                                                                        
Evolution of Strategic Autonomy 
 
Need of Strategic Autonomy 
• Geostrategic balancing: India has always sought to maintain close diplomatic ties with different groups, 
including those who consider the other as an enemy or a competitor.  
o For example, India’s concurrent diplomatic ties with Iran; while pursuing strong relationships with US, 
Saudi Arabia and Israel (all of them consider Iran as an outcast). 
• Need for Multi alignment: Any quest to maximize options and expand space naturally requires engaging 
multiple players. 
o Today’s world is characterized by complex interdependence (where countries are competing on 
geostrategic issues and cooperating on geo-economic issues) and hence Indian foreign policy requires 
strategic hedging. 
o For example, due to strategic autonomy India has maintained strategic defence relation with United 
States as well as it is keen to put forward S-400 deal with Russia. 
Page 3


 
16                                                                                                                                                        
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
2.1. STRATEGIC AUTONOMY 
Why in news? 
Recently, Foreign Secretary of India listed the five 
pillars of Indian diplomacy for strategic autonomy & 
global good. 
More in news 
The five pillars of Indian Diplomacy are: 
• Multipolar focus: India places Neighborhood 
First, Act East and Think West and has revitalized 
its approach to these policies. 
• Diplomacy as an international force multiplier 
for the Government: The Ministry of External 
Affairs is the global arm of the government and 
has a global footprint and presence. 
o Indian diplomacy must be able to work with 
domestic partners and bridge them with 
international interests to exploit the 
opportunities that will inevitably arise. 
• Force for global good: This pillar ensures 
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action. 
o For example, India’s efforts in ensuring global vaccine supply through Vaccine Diplomacy.  
• Futuristic Outlook: It promotes efforts at rebalancing including our endeavor to participate in the search for 
solutions to common problems.  
o For example, despite our development needs, India has shown strong commitment to climate action. 
• Indian in thought: Indian diplomacy is guided by bearings that arise from Indian thinking influenced over 
centuries by Kautilya’s Arthshastra or ancient texts such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagvad Gita. Three 
strands of Indian diplomacy worth mentioning here are: 
o Tradition of the Middle Path. 
o Human-centric globalization. 
o Need for strategic autonomy. 
What is Strategic Autonomy? 
• Strategic autonomy denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred 
foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.  
• India and Strategic Autonomy: 
o In bipolar or multipolar world orders dominated by globalization, the ability to be strategically 
autonomous is not absolute but only relative.  
o Based on this, India is destined to be even less strategically autonomous.  
o Core security issues: India resist external pressure to change its policy or moderate its interest on core 
issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. 
? For example, core national interests like Jammu & Kashmir issue and nuclear weapons.  
o Non-core security issues: Under external pressure, India is likely to alter their policy or moderate their 
interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the 
benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest.  
? For example, India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency under 
the pressure of United States. 
 
 
Non-Alignment & Strategic Autonomy 
• In appearance, the two are different – the one non-
alignment, the other multi-alignments; the one is 
relevant in the bipolar world, the other in the 
multipolar world; the one where India acted as a key 
leader of the South, the other where India is a leader 
among select powers (both Global South and among 
today’s major power centers). 
• In essence, the two are similar in the sense that both 
assume India would judge issues and relations on 
merit, not on the dictates of other powers. Strategic 
Autonomy is all about issue-based alliances. 
Strategic Autonomy & Self-reliance 
• Unlike in the past, self-reliance today is not about 
retreating from the world, but of enhancing India’s 
economic contribution to the global economy.  
• Self-reliance is about empowering India and the 
speedy realization of its full national economic 
potential. 
• When Self-reliance is applied to foreign policy 
framework, it comes closer to “strategic autonomy”. 
 
17                                                                                                                                                        
Evolution of Strategic Autonomy 
 
Need of Strategic Autonomy 
• Geostrategic balancing: India has always sought to maintain close diplomatic ties with different groups, 
including those who consider the other as an enemy or a competitor.  
o For example, India’s concurrent diplomatic ties with Iran; while pursuing strong relationships with US, 
Saudi Arabia and Israel (all of them consider Iran as an outcast). 
• Need for Multi alignment: Any quest to maximize options and expand space naturally requires engaging 
multiple players. 
o Today’s world is characterized by complex interdependence (where countries are competing on 
geostrategic issues and cooperating on geo-economic issues) and hence Indian foreign policy requires 
strategic hedging. 
o For example, due to strategic autonomy India has maintained strategic defence relation with United 
States as well as it is keen to put forward S-400 deal with Russia. 
 
18                                                                                                                                                        
• Need for greater realism in policy: India has realized that soft power diplomacy alone is not sufficient for 
protecting the country’s interests and there is a need for realism as well as pragmatism in Indian foreign 
policy. 
o For example, India’s early misreading of Pakistan’s and China’s intentions (Indo-Pak war 1948 & Sino-
India war 1962) led to Gilgit-Baltistan & part of Kashmir and Aksai Chin region now being under the 
effective control of Pakistan and China respectively. 
Challenges to Strategic Autonomy 
• Chinese assertion: In the 1990s, India’s strategic autonomy was about fending off US political threats to 
India but in contemporary times, it is inevitably about coping with China’s challenge to India’s territorial 
integrity and sovereignty. 
o For example, assertive policies of China at Line of Actual Control, blockade to India’s membership at 
Nuclear Suppliers Group etc. 
• Hostile Neighbors: Pursuing policy of Strategic Autonomy requires no unsettled international borders or no 
hostile neighbors. 
o In case of India, China-India as well as India-Pakistan border is long, mountainous and long disputed and 
both are nuclear powered nations. 
• India’s dependence on western countries: India needs technology, capital, markets, skills, defence 
equipment, international networking, and global cooperation to resolve global issues. But critical or sensitive 
technology can come only at the behest of compromising strategic autonomy. 
• American unreliability: US sanctions on countries where India has a stake often compromise its policy of 
Strategic Autonomy.  
o For example, The North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) with Iran has stalled due to the US’s secondary 
sanctions threats, which also adversely affects Indian policy towards Afghanistan or unexpected violation 
of the India’s exclusive economic zone by US during a recent so-called “freedom of navigation” 
operation (FONOP) in the Indian Ocean. 
• Rise of Russia-China-Pakistan axis: A de facto Russia-China-Pakistan (RCP) strategic axis has emerged in 
recent years which has made balancing act a difficult one for India. 
o For example, Russia has now promised a $14 billion investment in Pakistan’s energy sector including $2.5 
billion for the North-South (TAPI) pipeline project.  
• China’s dominance in South-Asia: Another change since 1971 is that China has developed significant 
relations, chiefly economic, with India’s neighbors.  
o Hence, apart from Bhutan, India’s immediate neighbors generally find India overbearing and try to 
engage with China. 
Way forward 
• Pursuing Independent Foreign policy: The policy of Strategic Autonomy should be used to enhance India’s 
strategic space and capacity for independent agency, allowing maximum flexibility and maneuverability to 
increase the options for New Delhi’s choices to promote and protect its interest. 
• Issue based alignments: Ridding itself of its non-aligned past, India should focus on “alignment based on 
issues” rather than ideology, thereby maintaining “decisional autonomy”. 
• Balancing China’s rise: The logic of strategic autonomy from China nudges India to look for strong security 
partnerships with the US, Europe, Japan and Australia.  
o On the economic front, India is exploring various forms of collaboration with a broad group of natio ns 
that have a shared interest in developing trustworthy global supply chains that are not totally tied with 
China. 
• Defence Indigenization: India is dependent on many foreign players (like U.S, Russia etc.) for its defence 
requirement, this may not pave well in national interest. Even defense indigenization assumes more 
significance, especially in the context of counterbalancing China. 
To conclude, in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India needs to follow an approach of working with 
multiple partners on different agendas like Climate Change, Terrorism etc. and hence Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, 
Sabka Vishwas is relevant in foreign policy. In some ways, the contemporary shift from non-alignment to 
strategic autonomy in India is simply a case of the catching up to reality in a multipolar world order. On the lines 
of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, India should pursue an Independent Foreign policy in order to secure its interest and 
fulfill its global aspirations. 
Page 4


 
16                                                                                                                                                        
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
2.1. STRATEGIC AUTONOMY 
Why in news? 
Recently, Foreign Secretary of India listed the five 
pillars of Indian diplomacy for strategic autonomy & 
global good. 
More in news 
The five pillars of Indian Diplomacy are: 
• Multipolar focus: India places Neighborhood 
First, Act East and Think West and has revitalized 
its approach to these policies. 
• Diplomacy as an international force multiplier 
for the Government: The Ministry of External 
Affairs is the global arm of the government and 
has a global footprint and presence. 
o Indian diplomacy must be able to work with 
domestic partners and bridge them with 
international interests to exploit the 
opportunities that will inevitably arise. 
• Force for global good: This pillar ensures 
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action. 
o For example, India’s efforts in ensuring global vaccine supply through Vaccine Diplomacy.  
• Futuristic Outlook: It promotes efforts at rebalancing including our endeavor to participate in the search for 
solutions to common problems.  
o For example, despite our development needs, India has shown strong commitment to climate action. 
• Indian in thought: Indian diplomacy is guided by bearings that arise from Indian thinking influenced over 
centuries by Kautilya’s Arthshastra or ancient texts such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagvad Gita. Three 
strands of Indian diplomacy worth mentioning here are: 
o Tradition of the Middle Path. 
o Human-centric globalization. 
o Need for strategic autonomy. 
What is Strategic Autonomy? 
• Strategic autonomy denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred 
foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.  
• India and Strategic Autonomy: 
o In bipolar or multipolar world orders dominated by globalization, the ability to be strategically 
autonomous is not absolute but only relative.  
o Based on this, India is destined to be even less strategically autonomous.  
o Core security issues: India resist external pressure to change its policy or moderate its interest on core 
issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. 
? For example, core national interests like Jammu & Kashmir issue and nuclear weapons.  
o Non-core security issues: Under external pressure, India is likely to alter their policy or moderate their 
interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the 
benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest.  
? For example, India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency under 
the pressure of United States. 
 
 
Non-Alignment & Strategic Autonomy 
• In appearance, the two are different – the one non-
alignment, the other multi-alignments; the one is 
relevant in the bipolar world, the other in the 
multipolar world; the one where India acted as a key 
leader of the South, the other where India is a leader 
among select powers (both Global South and among 
today’s major power centers). 
• In essence, the two are similar in the sense that both 
assume India would judge issues and relations on 
merit, not on the dictates of other powers. Strategic 
Autonomy is all about issue-based alliances. 
Strategic Autonomy & Self-reliance 
• Unlike in the past, self-reliance today is not about 
retreating from the world, but of enhancing India’s 
economic contribution to the global economy.  
• Self-reliance is about empowering India and the 
speedy realization of its full national economic 
potential. 
• When Self-reliance is applied to foreign policy 
framework, it comes closer to “strategic autonomy”. 
 
17                                                                                                                                                        
Evolution of Strategic Autonomy 
 
Need of Strategic Autonomy 
• Geostrategic balancing: India has always sought to maintain close diplomatic ties with different groups, 
including those who consider the other as an enemy or a competitor.  
o For example, India’s concurrent diplomatic ties with Iran; while pursuing strong relationships with US, 
Saudi Arabia and Israel (all of them consider Iran as an outcast). 
• Need for Multi alignment: Any quest to maximize options and expand space naturally requires engaging 
multiple players. 
o Today’s world is characterized by complex interdependence (where countries are competing on 
geostrategic issues and cooperating on geo-economic issues) and hence Indian foreign policy requires 
strategic hedging. 
o For example, due to strategic autonomy India has maintained strategic defence relation with United 
States as well as it is keen to put forward S-400 deal with Russia. 
 
18                                                                                                                                                        
• Need for greater realism in policy: India has realized that soft power diplomacy alone is not sufficient for 
protecting the country’s interests and there is a need for realism as well as pragmatism in Indian foreign 
policy. 
o For example, India’s early misreading of Pakistan’s and China’s intentions (Indo-Pak war 1948 & Sino-
India war 1962) led to Gilgit-Baltistan & part of Kashmir and Aksai Chin region now being under the 
effective control of Pakistan and China respectively. 
Challenges to Strategic Autonomy 
• Chinese assertion: In the 1990s, India’s strategic autonomy was about fending off US political threats to 
India but in contemporary times, it is inevitably about coping with China’s challenge to India’s territorial 
integrity and sovereignty. 
o For example, assertive policies of China at Line of Actual Control, blockade to India’s membership at 
Nuclear Suppliers Group etc. 
• Hostile Neighbors: Pursuing policy of Strategic Autonomy requires no unsettled international borders or no 
hostile neighbors. 
o In case of India, China-India as well as India-Pakistan border is long, mountainous and long disputed and 
both are nuclear powered nations. 
• India’s dependence on western countries: India needs technology, capital, markets, skills, defence 
equipment, international networking, and global cooperation to resolve global issues. But critical or sensitive 
technology can come only at the behest of compromising strategic autonomy. 
• American unreliability: US sanctions on countries where India has a stake often compromise its policy of 
Strategic Autonomy.  
o For example, The North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) with Iran has stalled due to the US’s secondary 
sanctions threats, which also adversely affects Indian policy towards Afghanistan or unexpected violation 
of the India’s exclusive economic zone by US during a recent so-called “freedom of navigation” 
operation (FONOP) in the Indian Ocean. 
• Rise of Russia-China-Pakistan axis: A de facto Russia-China-Pakistan (RCP) strategic axis has emerged in 
recent years which has made balancing act a difficult one for India. 
o For example, Russia has now promised a $14 billion investment in Pakistan’s energy sector including $2.5 
billion for the North-South (TAPI) pipeline project.  
• China’s dominance in South-Asia: Another change since 1971 is that China has developed significant 
relations, chiefly economic, with India’s neighbors.  
o Hence, apart from Bhutan, India’s immediate neighbors generally find India overbearing and try to 
engage with China. 
Way forward 
• Pursuing Independent Foreign policy: The policy of Strategic Autonomy should be used to enhance India’s 
strategic space and capacity for independent agency, allowing maximum flexibility and maneuverability to 
increase the options for New Delhi’s choices to promote and protect its interest. 
• Issue based alignments: Ridding itself of its non-aligned past, India should focus on “alignment based on 
issues” rather than ideology, thereby maintaining “decisional autonomy”. 
• Balancing China’s rise: The logic of strategic autonomy from China nudges India to look for strong security 
partnerships with the US, Europe, Japan and Australia.  
o On the economic front, India is exploring various forms of collaboration with a broad group of natio ns 
that have a shared interest in developing trustworthy global supply chains that are not totally tied with 
China. 
• Defence Indigenization: India is dependent on many foreign players (like U.S, Russia etc.) for its defence 
requirement, this may not pave well in national interest. Even defense indigenization assumes more 
significance, especially in the context of counterbalancing China. 
To conclude, in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India needs to follow an approach of working with 
multiple partners on different agendas like Climate Change, Terrorism etc. and hence Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, 
Sabka Vishwas is relevant in foreign policy. In some ways, the contemporary shift from non-alignment to 
strategic autonomy in India is simply a case of the catching up to reality in a multipolar world order. On the lines 
of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, India should pursue an Independent Foreign policy in order to secure its interest and 
fulfill its global aspirations. 
 
19                                                                                                                                                        
 
 
2.2. INDIA-NEPAL 
Why in news? 
Recent political crisis in Nepal has attracted renewed attention towards reassessing the implications of 
instability in Nepal for India’s bilateral and regional interests. 
Background 
• Since 2015, when Nepal adopted the 
Constitution after bringing an end to 
Monarchy, the country has been caught 
in political turmoil.  
• Amidst a tussle for power within the 
ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), 
with no party or coalition having a 
majority, the country’s parliament has 
been dissolved twice since December 
2020. 
• Recently, Supreme Court of Nepal has 
passed an order to appoint Nepali 
Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba 
as Prime Minister and reinstated the 
dissolved Parliament second time in last 
five months 
o The court’s intervention alters the 
balance of power in the country’s 
constitutional scheme. 
• The present political crisis in Nepal has a 
long history of the power struggle 
between the two prominent leaders, 
which to a great extent was 
camouflaged or contained through the 
intervention of the Chinese Communist leaders, from time to time.  
• India’s entrenched interests in Nepal suffered a setback in the recent times: 
o 2015 border blockade following protests by Madhesis (people of Indian ancestry residing in the Terai of 
Nepal) and some other ethnic groups against marginalisation of their interests in the Nepalese 
constitution.  
o Boundary Dispute: the relations strained further when the Nepal government published a map including 
370 sq km with Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura, months after India had those areas in its map (see 
infographic). 
• While India has previously interfered in Nepal’s domestic politics, it has described the current power struggle 
as an “internal matter” to prevent backlash from Nepali policymakers and to avoid a potential spillover of 
political unrest. 
Why stability in Nepal is in India’s interest? 
Stability in any form whether political, economic or social is important for India due to various reasons such as: 
• Strategic location of Nepal: Apart from being an immediate neighbour, Nepal acts as a natural security 
buffer between India and China.  
• Internal security: The harmonious relations between the two countries is necessary to nab dreaded 
terrorists groups such as Al-Qaida, Taliban, LeT etc. and deal with the rising nexus between the Maoist 
groups operating in India and Nepal and using Nepal as a transit base for their clandestine operations against 
India. 
• Security of India aided developmental projects: Trust deficit between Nepal and India largely affected the 
implementation of various Indian-aided projects in Nepal such as cross-border railways, Pancheshwar 
multipurpose project, motorable bridges over Mahakali River among others. At times, some of the Indian 
investment projects had been attacked by the maoists. 
Page 5


 
16                                                                                                                                                        
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
2.1. STRATEGIC AUTONOMY 
Why in news? 
Recently, Foreign Secretary of India listed the five 
pillars of Indian diplomacy for strategic autonomy & 
global good. 
More in news 
The five pillars of Indian Diplomacy are: 
• Multipolar focus: India places Neighborhood 
First, Act East and Think West and has revitalized 
its approach to these policies. 
• Diplomacy as an international force multiplier 
for the Government: The Ministry of External 
Affairs is the global arm of the government and 
has a global footprint and presence. 
o Indian diplomacy must be able to work with 
domestic partners and bridge them with 
international interests to exploit the 
opportunities that will inevitably arise. 
• Force for global good: This pillar ensures 
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action. 
o For example, India’s efforts in ensuring global vaccine supply through Vaccine Diplomacy.  
• Futuristic Outlook: It promotes efforts at rebalancing including our endeavor to participate in the search for 
solutions to common problems.  
o For example, despite our development needs, India has shown strong commitment to climate action. 
• Indian in thought: Indian diplomacy is guided by bearings that arise from Indian thinking influenced over 
centuries by Kautilya’s Arthshastra or ancient texts such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagvad Gita. Three 
strands of Indian diplomacy worth mentioning here are: 
o Tradition of the Middle Path. 
o Human-centric globalization. 
o Need for strategic autonomy. 
What is Strategic Autonomy? 
• Strategic autonomy denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred 
foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.  
• India and Strategic Autonomy: 
o In bipolar or multipolar world orders dominated by globalization, the ability to be strategically 
autonomous is not absolute but only relative.  
o Based on this, India is destined to be even less strategically autonomous.  
o Core security issues: India resist external pressure to change its policy or moderate its interest on core 
issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. 
? For example, core national interests like Jammu & Kashmir issue and nuclear weapons.  
o Non-core security issues: Under external pressure, India is likely to alter their policy or moderate their 
interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the 
benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest.  
? For example, India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency under 
the pressure of United States. 
 
 
Non-Alignment & Strategic Autonomy 
• In appearance, the two are different – the one non-
alignment, the other multi-alignments; the one is 
relevant in the bipolar world, the other in the 
multipolar world; the one where India acted as a key 
leader of the South, the other where India is a leader 
among select powers (both Global South and among 
today’s major power centers). 
• In essence, the two are similar in the sense that both 
assume India would judge issues and relations on 
merit, not on the dictates of other powers. Strategic 
Autonomy is all about issue-based alliances. 
Strategic Autonomy & Self-reliance 
• Unlike in the past, self-reliance today is not about 
retreating from the world, but of enhancing India’s 
economic contribution to the global economy.  
• Self-reliance is about empowering India and the 
speedy realization of its full national economic 
potential. 
• When Self-reliance is applied to foreign policy 
framework, it comes closer to “strategic autonomy”. 
 
17                                                                                                                                                        
Evolution of Strategic Autonomy 
 
Need of Strategic Autonomy 
• Geostrategic balancing: India has always sought to maintain close diplomatic ties with different groups, 
including those who consider the other as an enemy or a competitor.  
o For example, India’s concurrent diplomatic ties with Iran; while pursuing strong relationships with US, 
Saudi Arabia and Israel (all of them consider Iran as an outcast). 
• Need for Multi alignment: Any quest to maximize options and expand space naturally requires engaging 
multiple players. 
o Today’s world is characterized by complex interdependence (where countries are competing on 
geostrategic issues and cooperating on geo-economic issues) and hence Indian foreign policy requires 
strategic hedging. 
o For example, due to strategic autonomy India has maintained strategic defence relation with United 
States as well as it is keen to put forward S-400 deal with Russia. 
 
18                                                                                                                                                        
• Need for greater realism in policy: India has realized that soft power diplomacy alone is not sufficient for 
protecting the country’s interests and there is a need for realism as well as pragmatism in Indian foreign 
policy. 
o For example, India’s early misreading of Pakistan’s and China’s intentions (Indo-Pak war 1948 & Sino-
India war 1962) led to Gilgit-Baltistan & part of Kashmir and Aksai Chin region now being under the 
effective control of Pakistan and China respectively. 
Challenges to Strategic Autonomy 
• Chinese assertion: In the 1990s, India’s strategic autonomy was about fending off US political threats to 
India but in contemporary times, it is inevitably about coping with China’s challenge to India’s territorial 
integrity and sovereignty. 
o For example, assertive policies of China at Line of Actual Control, blockade to India’s membership at 
Nuclear Suppliers Group etc. 
• Hostile Neighbors: Pursuing policy of Strategic Autonomy requires no unsettled international borders or no 
hostile neighbors. 
o In case of India, China-India as well as India-Pakistan border is long, mountainous and long disputed and 
both are nuclear powered nations. 
• India’s dependence on western countries: India needs technology, capital, markets, skills, defence 
equipment, international networking, and global cooperation to resolve global issues. But critical or sensitive 
technology can come only at the behest of compromising strategic autonomy. 
• American unreliability: US sanctions on countries where India has a stake often compromise its policy of 
Strategic Autonomy.  
o For example, The North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) with Iran has stalled due to the US’s secondary 
sanctions threats, which also adversely affects Indian policy towards Afghanistan or unexpected violation 
of the India’s exclusive economic zone by US during a recent so-called “freedom of navigation” 
operation (FONOP) in the Indian Ocean. 
• Rise of Russia-China-Pakistan axis: A de facto Russia-China-Pakistan (RCP) strategic axis has emerged in 
recent years which has made balancing act a difficult one for India. 
o For example, Russia has now promised a $14 billion investment in Pakistan’s energy sector including $2.5 
billion for the North-South (TAPI) pipeline project.  
• China’s dominance in South-Asia: Another change since 1971 is that China has developed significant 
relations, chiefly economic, with India’s neighbors.  
o Hence, apart from Bhutan, India’s immediate neighbors generally find India overbearing and try to 
engage with China. 
Way forward 
• Pursuing Independent Foreign policy: The policy of Strategic Autonomy should be used to enhance India’s 
strategic space and capacity for independent agency, allowing maximum flexibility and maneuverability to 
increase the options for New Delhi’s choices to promote and protect its interest. 
• Issue based alignments: Ridding itself of its non-aligned past, India should focus on “alignment based on 
issues” rather than ideology, thereby maintaining “decisional autonomy”. 
• Balancing China’s rise: The logic of strategic autonomy from China nudges India to look for strong security 
partnerships with the US, Europe, Japan and Australia.  
o On the economic front, India is exploring various forms of collaboration with a broad group of natio ns 
that have a shared interest in developing trustworthy global supply chains that are not totally tied with 
China. 
• Defence Indigenization: India is dependent on many foreign players (like U.S, Russia etc.) for its defence 
requirement, this may not pave well in national interest. Even defense indigenization assumes more 
significance, especially in the context of counterbalancing China. 
To conclude, in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India needs to follow an approach of working with 
multiple partners on different agendas like Climate Change, Terrorism etc. and hence Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, 
Sabka Vishwas is relevant in foreign policy. In some ways, the contemporary shift from non-alignment to 
strategic autonomy in India is simply a case of the catching up to reality in a multipolar world order. On the lines 
of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, India should pursue an Independent Foreign policy in order to secure its interest and 
fulfill its global aspirations. 
 
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2.2. INDIA-NEPAL 
Why in news? 
Recent political crisis in Nepal has attracted renewed attention towards reassessing the implications of 
instability in Nepal for India’s bilateral and regional interests. 
Background 
• Since 2015, when Nepal adopted the 
Constitution after bringing an end to 
Monarchy, the country has been caught 
in political turmoil.  
• Amidst a tussle for power within the 
ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), 
with no party or coalition having a 
majority, the country’s parliament has 
been dissolved twice since December 
2020. 
• Recently, Supreme Court of Nepal has 
passed an order to appoint Nepali 
Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba 
as Prime Minister and reinstated the 
dissolved Parliament second time in last 
five months 
o The court’s intervention alters the 
balance of power in the country’s 
constitutional scheme. 
• The present political crisis in Nepal has a 
long history of the power struggle 
between the two prominent leaders, 
which to a great extent was 
camouflaged or contained through the 
intervention of the Chinese Communist leaders, from time to time.  
• India’s entrenched interests in Nepal suffered a setback in the recent times: 
o 2015 border blockade following protests by Madhesis (people of Indian ancestry residing in the Terai of 
Nepal) and some other ethnic groups against marginalisation of their interests in the Nepalese 
constitution.  
o Boundary Dispute: the relations strained further when the Nepal government published a map including 
370 sq km with Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura, months after India had those areas in its map (see 
infographic). 
• While India has previously interfered in Nepal’s domestic politics, it has described the current power struggle 
as an “internal matter” to prevent backlash from Nepali policymakers and to avoid a potential spillover of 
political unrest. 
Why stability in Nepal is in India’s interest? 
Stability in any form whether political, economic or social is important for India due to various reasons such as: 
• Strategic location of Nepal: Apart from being an immediate neighbour, Nepal acts as a natural security 
buffer between India and China.  
• Internal security: The harmonious relations between the two countries is necessary to nab dreaded 
terrorists groups such as Al-Qaida, Taliban, LeT etc. and deal with the rising nexus between the Maoist 
groups operating in India and Nepal and using Nepal as a transit base for their clandestine operations against 
India. 
• Security of India aided developmental projects: Trust deficit between Nepal and India largely affected the 
implementation of various Indian-aided projects in Nepal such as cross-border railways, Pancheshwar 
multipurpose project, motorable bridges over Mahakali River among others. At times, some of the Indian 
investment projects had been attacked by the maoists. 
 
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• Flood water management and development of hydropower: Rivers originating in Nepal such as Gandak and 
Kosi feed the perennial river systems of India in terms of ecology and hydropower potential.  
• People to people connect- Since time immemorial, people-to-people relations between Nepal and India 
have remained unique as it is based on the twin pillars of an open border system and people-to-people 
contacts of kinship. Because of the open border system, the citizens of both countries cross over the Nepal-
India border for livelihood opportunities apart from marriages; familial ties; cultural, social, and economic 
security; and even political affairs.  
• Empowerment of  Madhesis: Madhesis inhabit the Nepali terai adjacent to the Indian plains. Their political 
empowerment through a democratic dispensation is important to India because any unrest there will spill 
over into our country.  
Challenges in relationship 
• China’s influence: China has used its control over the Nepalese government to not only influence economic 
and political policies but also Nepalese society thus impacting India’s traditionally dominant influence. For 
instance, Beijing offered to pay for the salaries of Mandarin teachers in Nepal, resulting in several private 
schools making Mandarin a compulsory subject. 
• Nepal’s Discontent in Trade: India is Nepal’s largest trading partner (accounting for 65 percent of Nepal’s 
total trade), with whom Nepal also runs the largest trade deficit. 
o Because of its geographical constraints, Nepal has found itself heavily reliant on India, never acquiring 
the comparative advantage to increase exports. As a result, local enterprises fail to grow and compete 
against lower-priced Indian products. India’s imposition of non-tariff barriers and lack of standard 
infrastructure have added to Nepal’s discontent with India.  
• Trust deficit towards India: India’s big brother attitude arising out of its Neighbourhood first policy is 
perceived as a disrespect for Nepal’s sovereignty thus deepening distrust and suspicion for India. For 
instance, 2015 blockade at India-Nepal border made the Nepal government to turn for help to China and 
strengthened anti-India rhetoric. 
• Issues with Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950: Nepal wants India to revisit the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty 
of Peace and Friendship in order to reflect changes and new realities of contemporary bilateral ties. 
However, there is a lukewarm response from India on the request increasing the bitterness in the relations.   
• Discontent over India’s approach in dealing with river treaties: Nepali stakeholders claim that India’s 
handling of the issues involving the Koshi and Gandaki rivers has been far from satisfactory leading to the 
collapse of Koshi’s embankment and massive flooding in Nepal in 2008. Also, the Mahakali agreement has 
remained in limbo for over two decades. 
• Unrestricted cross-border movement of people: It impacts Nepal’s domestic industry, local livelihood 
opportunities, law and order, and national security. The COVID pandemic has heightened the pressure on 
the Nepali government to create jobs, including for migrant workers who have returned or are expected to 
return home from India following job loss. 
Way forward 
India’s long-term interest in this sensitive neighbouring country is best served by a stable multi-party democracy 
and economic prosperity. Efforts are being made in the recent times to restore normalcy in the bilateral ties. For 
instance, 
• 6
th
 India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting was held amid the political turmoil that discussed cooperation in 
a range of areas, including power, oil and gas, water resources, capacity building and tourism among others. 
• India assisted Nepal in fighting COVID-19 by supplying essential medicines, PPE kits etc. Indian and Nepali 
health professionals are collaborating their efforts on ground to contain and stop this Pandemic. 
Going forward, interdependence between Nepal and India is essential to reset the relations between 
the neighbours.  
• The focus should be given to more air, road, train, and waterways connectivity, to facilitate 
greater movement of commercial vehicles between the two countries. 
• India must leverage people-to-people links to ensure a stable and mutually-productive state-to-state 
relationship. 
• Ongoing negotiations and discussions on issues like boundary dispute must be taken forward through 
appropriate bilateral mechanisms. In this case, boundary dispute resolution between India and Bangladesh 
should serve as a model.