After Reading This Article You Can Solve This UPSC Mains Model Question:
“India’s Neighbourhood First Policy is increasingly being tested by evolving regional and global challenges.” Examine in the context of recent geopolitical developments. 15 Word (GS-2 International Relations)
Concept and Core Philosophy
The Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) is the cornerstone of India’s foreign policy, viewing India’s prosperity as intrinsically linked to the stability and growth of its neighbors.
- Principles (The 5S Framework): Samman (Respect), Samvad (Dialogue), Shanti (Peace), Samriddhi (Prosperity), and Sanskriti (Culture).
- Approach: Shift from “Big Brother” dominance to a non-reciprocal, consultative, and outcome-oriented partnership (inspired by the Gujral Doctrine).
- Institutional Frameworks: Focus on sub-regional groupings like BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) and BIMSTEC, often as a functional alternative to the stalled SAARC
Scope of Neighborhood
1. Immediate Neighborhood
- Land Neighbors: Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
- Maritime Neighbors: Sri Lanka and Maldives.
2. Extended Neighborhood
- Act East Link: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines (via BIMSTEC and ASEAN).
- Connect Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
- West Asia/Middle East: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Iran (crucial for energy security and the IMEC corridor).
3. Strategic Space (IOR & SAGAR)
Focuses on the island nations and littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region where India acts as a “Net Security Provider.”
- Island Nations: Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, and Reunion Island (French territory).
- Littoral States: Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa (Western IOR).
Objectives of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy
- Regional Stability: Preventing the spillover of cross-border terrorism and radicalization from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Myanmar to ensure domestic security.
- Strategic Autonomy: Countering China’s “String of Pearls” and BRI footprint in Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal to maintain regional leadership.
- Economic Integration: Boosting physical and digital connectivity via BBIN and energy grids in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal for shared prosperity.
- Net Security Provider: Leading maritime security and HADR (Disaster Relief) missions in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Maldives under the SAGAR vision.
- Civilizational Soft Power: Utilizing shared religious and linguistic heritage to bridge trust deficits with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Key Pillars of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy
1. Connectivity: Physical & Digital
- Infrastructure: Focus on “Multimodal Transit” such as the Kaladan Project (Myanmar) and Agartala-Akhaura Rail (Bangladesh) to integrate the North-East.
- Digital: Exporting the “India Stack” (UPI, RuPay) to countries like Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to create a regional digital economy.
2. Economic Integration & Energy Security
- Trade Concessions: Non-reciprocal trade benefits (under the Gujral Doctrine) for smaller neighbors to facilitate duty-free access to Indian markets.
- Energy Grids: Landmark projects like the India-Nepal-Bangladesh tripartite power trade (2024–2026) allowing for a regional electricity market.
3. Strategic & Maritime Security
- Net Security Provider: Leading maritime patrolling and anti-piracy efforts under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
- Strategic Balancing: Proactively countering external influences (specifically China’s BRI) through faster project execution and currency swap agreements with Maldives and Sri Lanka.
4. Humanitarian & First Responder Role
- Disaster Relief: India’s role as the first to arrive during crises, such as the Nepal Earthquake or the Sri Lankan Economic Crisis ($4 billion assistance).
- Health Diplomacy: Leveraging initiatives like Vaccine Maitri to provide critical medical aid during pandemics/outbreaks.
5. Civilizational & Cultural Connect (Soft Power)
- Shared Heritage: Promoting the Buddhist Circuit (Nepal/Bhutan) and Ramayana Circuit (Sri Lanka) to bridge the trust deficit through “Sanskriti.”
- People-to-People: Expanding scholarships and ITEC programs for students and professionals across the subcontinent.
Recent Developments
Several critical shifts are redefining regional diplomacy:
- Political Transitions: Following the recent elections in Bangladesh and Nepal, India is pivoting from “Palace Diplomacy” (focusing on specific leaders) to “People Diplomacy,” engaging with new youth-led movements and diverse political stakeholders.
- West Asia Spillover: Today’s editorials highlight how escalating tensions in West Asia are forcing India to secure its maritime neighborhood to protect energy corridors and the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor).
- Climate & Health Diplomacy: A move toward “Low-Intensity Security” through Joint Disaster Relief (HADR) and sharing digital governance tools (Open-source platforms) to build long-term institutional dependency.
Key Challenges to India’s Neighbourhood First
- Energy Insecurity: Heightened volatility in the Strait of Hormuz (mostly shut as of today) has caused oil prices to surge over $100/barrel, straining the economies of India and its neighbors (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka), who now look to India for energy bailouts.
- Diaspora Vulnerability: The conflict directly threatens nearly 25 million South Asians (including 10 million Indians) living in the Gulf. Recent missile shrapnel deaths in Abu Dhabi and evacuations highlight the massive humanitarian risk.
- Maritime “Net Security” Test: Increased attacks on commercial tankers in the Indian Ocean (e.g., near UAE’s Fujairah) challenge India’s image as a “Net Security Provider.” The Indian Navy is currently forced to divert resources for warship escorts (OP Sankalp).
- Diplomatic Balancing (Trust Deficit): Neighbors like Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka have taken more vocal stances on the conflict. India’s initial perceived alignment with Western/Israeli positions creates a “credibility gap” within its own neighborhood.
- Connectivity Disruptions: The conflict has halted progress on the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor), forcing India to double down on the INSTC (via Iran/Chabahar), which is itself complicated by ongoing strikes.
- The China Squeeze: While India is distracted by West Asian maritime security, China continues to offer faster, non-political infrastructure funding, appealing to neighbors facing fuel-driven economic crises.
- Af-Pak Radicalization: Today’s news of Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan (hospital in Kabul) highlights the persistent threat of regional radicalization and cross-border “open war” that destabilizes India’s western flank.
Way Forward
- Pivot to “People Diplomacy”: Moving away from “Palace Diplomacy” (reliance on specific leaders) to engage with youth-led movements and civil society, as seen in the recent Bangladesh and Nepal transitions.
- Out-Implement, Don’t Out-Argue: Prioritizing the rapid completion of existing Lines of Credit (LoC) projects (e.g., Kaladan, Agartala-Akhaura) to match the execution speed of China’s BRI.
- Exporting India Stack (DPI): Scaling the integration of Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI, RuPay, ONDC) across the neighborhood to create a shared, India-centric regional digital economy.
- “First Responder” Institutionalization: Creating a permanent Regional Disaster & Health Task Force to provide predictable aid during climate crises or energy shocks caused by the West Asia war..
- Decoupling Domestic Rhetoric: Ensuring that internal political narratives (e.g., migration or CAA) do not “poison the well” of bilateral trust with key partners like Bangladesh.
- Maritime Collective Security: Strengthening the Columbo Security Conclave and SAGAR to address the new maritime threats in the Arabian Sea arising from the West Asia conflict.
Conclusion
India must evolve into a “Strategic Anchor,” leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure and asymmetric concessions to foster a resilient, integrated subcontinent that withstands external shocks while securing its status as a Net Security Provider.
