Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
Q3. “India’s neighbourhood policy increasingly reflects a shift from ‘reactive diplomacy’ to ‘developmental statecraft’.” Highlight the challenges in sustaining such an approach. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question
Reflects the evolving nature of India’s foreign policy under the Neighbourhood First policy and the growing importance of development partnerships amid regional geopolitical competition.Key Demand of the question
The question requires establishing the transition from reactive diplomacy to developmental statecraft in India’s neighbourhood policy. It also demands identification of key challenges that hinder the sustainability of this development-oriented approach.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly highlight the shift in India’s neighbourhood engagement towards development-led cooperation and strategic influence.Body
- Shift towards developmental statecraft: Indicate the move from reactive crisis handling to proactive development partnerships and connectivity-driven engagement.
- Challenges in sustainability: Highlight constraints like external competition and internal capacity limitations affecting long-term continuity.
Conclusion
Suggest the need for efficient delivery and strategic balancing to sustain India’s developmental outreach.
