Subject: GS 2
Syllabus: International Relations
- India and its neighbourhood relations.
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Questions
- Evaluate the efficacy of India's Neighbourhood First policy in fostering a peaceful and amicable subcontinent. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
- Among all the neighbours of India, there is minimal conflict in the case of Bhutan. Discuss the significance and areas of cooperation between India and Bhutan. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
1. Evaluate the efficacy of India's Neighbourhood First policy in fostering a peaceful and amicable subcontinent. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- The "Neighbourhood First" policy is an important factor of India’s foreign policy that focuses on frequent high-level political exchanges and a policy of non-reciprocity towards neighbours in the subcontinent.
- It is based on the Gujral Doctrine, which is a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India's immediate neighbours to maintain stability and growth in the region.
Main Body:
Effectiveness of India's Neighbourhood First Policy:
- Balancing India’s image and culture: "Neighbourhood First" policy follows India’s vision of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam while making it a leader of the southern world developing countries.
- Continuous Dialogue involves vigorous regional diplomacy by engaging with neighbouring nations and building political connectivity through dialogue.
- For example, all heads of government of SAARC countries were invited to the oath-taking ceremony of the Prime minister in 2014.
- Resolving bilateral issues: This policy helps India solve bilateral issues through mutual agreements without conflict.
- For example, India and Bangladesh had agreed on the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).
- Technical Cooperation in Subcontinent: The policy also focuses on technical cooperation among like-minded developing countries without many technological advancements.
- For example, the SAARC satellite was developed to share technology like telemedicine, e-learning etc., with people across South Asia.
- Disaster management: India’s cooperation in disaster response, weather forecasting etc., has created a positive image worldwide while increasing soft power.
- For example, operation Insaniyat, recent vaccine support during covid19 pandemic etc.
- Connectivity: to ensure a free flow of resources, energy, goods, labour, and security information across borders.
- For example, the Kaladan project with Myanmar.
Challenges to Neighbourhood First Policy:
- Role of Pakistan: Normalising equations with Pakistan remains India’s biggest challenge, as it openly uses terror as an instrument of state policy.
- Unstable Afghanistan: Fragile politics and state-sponsored external threats from Pakistan make maintaining relations with Afghanistan a challenge too.
- The recent role of the Taliban and the Non-inclusion of India as a major member in talks shows the weakness of the Neighbourhood First" policy.
- Dominant and Expansionist China: China's policies towards Pakistan, such as constructing Gwadar Port and Diamer Bhasha dam, have raised suspicions.
- Additionally, China's OBOR initiative has attracted smaller nations, further increasing concerns.
- Anti-Indian sentiments: Increasing anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal, fueled by local political tactics and accusations of a big brotherly attitude from India, challenge India's Neighbourhood First policy.
- Nepal's utilisation of China as a bargaining chip adds further complexity to the situation.
Conclusion:
- To quote Former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, You can change your friends but not neighbours.
- Hence, to play a dominant role in the emerging multipolar world politics, India must develop good relations with its neighbours while not compromising its national aspirations.
2. Among all the neighbours of India, there is minimal conflict in the case of Bhutan. Discuss the significance and areas of cooperation between India and Bhutan. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction
- Bhutan is our neighbor with the shortest land border shared among all the neighbors. It was in 1910 when Bhutan became a protectorate of British India which led to growing ties between two countries.
Main Body
Bhutan was first to recognize India when it got independent. It is significant for India in more than one ways like-
- It is a buffer state between India and China and plays an important role in security.
- Being an all weather friend, it is important for us in multilateral fora like UN etc to vote in India’s favor in host of issues.
- India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner thus serving as an important market for Indian commodities.
- Being a Himalayan state with many rivers, it has huge potential of hydropower which is reaped by India to some extent.
- Politically stable Bhutan is in India’s interests and has at times helped in addressing the issues related to insurgency.
Areas of cooperation between India and Bhutan:
- There is a free-trade regime between the two which is administered by India Bhutan Trade and Transit Agreement 1972.
- India has continually provided for access to sea routes for duty-free transit of Bhutanese exports.
- Bhutan’s first five year plan was launched in 1961 and India has been its development partner since then by extending financial support.
- India is a big source of investment and technology for hydro-power projects in Bhutan which not only fulfills Bhutanese demand but also fulfills the needs of North East states by export of surplus electricity. Current project development on Mangdechhu River is an example.
- Border security is a big area of cooperation and there is a secretary-level mechanism and Border District Coordination Meeting established for it.
- Education scholarships and cultural exchanges are another area of cooperation which help foster our soft power.
Conclusion
- Bhutan and India share deep and cordial ties and it borders our North East states which makes it very important from insurgency, connectivity and Chinese inclusion perspective. Thus it becomes more important to engage more and more with such neighbors.
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