International Relations: India's Foreign Policy A GS2 Mains Primer for UPSC Aspirants
7 min read
Feb 20, 2026
India's foreign policy is one of the highest-yield yet most underprepped areas in GS2 Mains. Questions on IR appear almost every year — bilateral relations, multilateral groupings, India's neighbourhood policy — and yet most aspirants treat it as an afterthought. This guide changes that. Whether you're building your foundation or doing a final revision sweep, here's everything you need to know about India's foreign policy — structured for the exam.
The Foundational Philosophy: What Drives India's Foreign Policy?
India's foreign policy is not reactive — it is built on a set of enduring principles that have evolved since independence.
- Panchsheel (1954): Five principles of peaceful coexistence signed with China. Still referenced in diplomatic statements today.
- Non-Alignment: India's Cold War stance of not aligning with either the US or USSR bloc. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was co-founded by Nehru, Nasser, and Tito.
- Strategic Autonomy: Post-Cold War evolution of non-alignment. India engages with all major powers on its own terms — seen clearly in India's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Neighbourhood First Policy: Prioritising SAARC nations and immediate neighbours — Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar — in diplomatic and developmental engagement.
- Act East Policy: A shift from "Look East" (1991) to "Act East" (2014), deepening strategic and economic ties with ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region.
Exam Tip: Questions often ask you to trace the evolution of a policy. Know the transition from Non-Alignment → Strategic Autonomy, and Look East → Act East.
India and Its Neighbourhood: The Critical Bilateral Relationships
India-China The most complex bilateral relationship in India's foreign policy matrix.
- Border disputes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — Galwan Valley clash (2020) remains a recent inflection point.
- China's String of Pearls strategy in the Indian Ocean is a persistent security concern.
- India is simultaneously a trade partner (~$136 billion in bilateral trade) and a strategic rival — this duality defines the relationship.
India-Pakistan Defined by historical conflict, terrorism, and the unresolved Kashmir issue.
- Bilateral trade suspended; diplomatic ties downgraded post-Article 370 abrogation (2019).
- Cross-border terrorism remains the central sticking point in any normalisation attempt.
- India's position: talks and terror cannot go together.
India-Bangladesh One of India's most successful neighbourhood partnerships.
- Teesta River water-sharing dispute remains pending.
- Cooperation on connectivity, power sharing, and counter-terrorism has deepened significantly.
- Political transitions in Bangladesh in 2024 require close monitoring for Mains 2025.
India-Sri Lanka and Maldives
- Sri Lanka's economic crisis (2022) saw India step in as first responder — a demonstration of the Neighbourhood First policy in action.
- Maldives has oscillated between pro-India and pro-China governments; the "India Out" campaign and subsequent recalibration is important current affairs.
India and Major Powers: The Strategic Quadrants
India-USA The relationship has matured significantly over two decades.
- QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue): India, USA, Japan, Australia — a key Indo-Pacific security architecture.
- Defence deals: COMCASA, BECA, LEMOA (foundational agreements) have transformed military interoperability.
- I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE, USA) — a newer minilateral grouping focused on food security and clean energy.
India-Russia A relationship tested by the Ukraine war but not broken.
- India continued oil imports from Russia despite Western pressure — a demonstration of strategic autonomy.
- S-400 missile defence system purchase led to CAATSA tensions with the US.
- Russia remains a critical defence supplier (~50% of India's defence imports historically).
India-Europe
- India-EU FTA negotiations have resumed after years of stalemate.
- European nations are increasingly important partners in technology and clean energy.
Multilateral Engagements: India's Institutional Footprint
India's foreign policy is not just bilateral — it operates through a web of multilateral institutions and groupings.
- BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa — expanded to include new members in 2023. India uses this platform to advocate for Global South interests.
- SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation): India is a full member since 2017. A complex platform given Pakistan and China's presence.
- G20: India held the G20 Presidency in 2023 — a landmark moment. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by consensus, including on the Ukraine conflict language.
- United Nations: India is a strong advocate for UNSC reform and permanent membership — the G4 grouping (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan) collectively pushes for this.
Exam Tip: For Mains, always link multilateral memberships to India's foreign policy objectives — trade, security, climate, or technology.
Key Themes for GS2 Mains 2025
Based on recent question trends and current affairs, these are the high-priority IR themes to master:
- Indo-Pacific and QUAD — strategic rationale, China's response, India's balancing act
- India's role in the Global South — Voice of Global South Summit, G20 leadership
- Diaspora diplomacy — how India leverages its 32-million strong diaspora
- Energy and food security diplomacy — West Asia relations (India-Gulf ties, India-Israel-Palestine position)
- Technology and cyber diplomacy — emerging area; India's stance on AI governance, data flows
How to Structure IR Answers in GS2 Mains
A strong IR answer in UPSC Mains follows this structure:
- Introduction — Define the relationship or concept briefly; add a recent development.
- Historical context — Show evolution, not just current state.
- Key dimensions — Political, economic, security, people-to-people.
- Challenges — Be honest about friction points; examiners reward balance.
- Way forward — India-centric, practical, not generic.
On PrepAiro, IR topics are broken into structured modules with answer frameworks mapped to PYQ patterns so you're not just reading, you're preparing to write.
Quick Revision: India's Foreign Policy Key Doctrines at a Glance
| Doctrine/Policy | Year | Core Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Panchsheel | 1954 | Peaceful coexistence with China |
| Non-Alignment | 1961 | Independent from Cold War blocs |
| Gujral Doctrine | 1996 | Non-reciprocal concessions to neighbours |
| Look East Policy | 1991 | Engage ASEAN economically |
| Act East Policy | 2014 | Deepen strategic ties with Indo-Pacific |
| Neighbourhood First | 2014 | Prioritise immediate neighbours |
Final Word
International Relations is not just about memorising treaties and summits. The UPSC examiner wants you to think like a foreign policy analyst contextualising events, understanding India's interests, and articulating nuanced positions. The aspirants who score well in GS2 IR questions are those who read current affairs critically, not passively.
Build your IR foundation now the investment compounds every time a new geopolitical development breaks in the news.
