Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
1. India needs an integrated foreign policy that can respond to the imperatives of building domestic capabilities, developing geo-economic partnerships, and constructing geopolitical coalitions with like-minded countries. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
As India returns to a high growth path after a slowdown in the last decade, its geopolitical salience in the world will continue to rise. India’s GDP has grown manifold since 1991-92 when it stood at $270 billion. Today, India’s GDP is $3.1 trillion and could cross, according to some estimates, $8 trillion by the end of this decade.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need for an integrated foreign policy for India.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin the giving a brief overview of major tenets of India’s current foreign policy.
Body:
First, explain the challenges pertaining to existing foreign policy of India – selective trade arrangements, economic protectionism and deglobalisation
Next, write about an integrated foreign policy can help India in – domestic capabilities, developing geo-economic partnerships, and constructing geopolitical coalitions. Substantiate with examples.
Next, mention the challenges of having an integrated foreign policy.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to address and overcome those challenges.
