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Source: The post is based on an article “Diplomacy for Viksit Bharat” published in the Indian Express on 16th August 2022.
Syllabus: GS 2 International relations; Bilateral relations Multilateral relations etc.
Relevance: Foreign Policy
News: The Prime Minister of India has outlined a new ambition to make India a developed country, “Viksit Bharat”, by 2047.
What are significant changes that will be needed in the Indian foreign policy tradition to become a developed country?
(1) There is a need to overcome the residual legacies of Partition that continue to undermine Delhi’s geopolitical position.
(a) India must prioritize deterring the dangers from across the Western frontier until Pakistan is ready for a productive relationship with India.
(b) Resolve the problems left over by Partition on India’s North-western frontier, like the settlement of the boundary dispute with Bangladesh.
(c) Push for connectivity, trade ties, and security partnerships with its neighbors.
(d) Work towards strengthening regional and trans-regional institutions in South Asia and beyond.
(2) Address the China challenge, like the growing power gap with China. India-China border disputes started in 1962 and continue to happen even at present, like in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2020. China has leveraged the divisions within the Subcontinent to constrain India, like CPEC in Pakistan. India’s engagement in the extended neighborhood is being challenged by China due to its increasing presence. China has been asserting itself across Asia to make a “unipolar Asia”.
(a) The Indian government must secure frontiers, retain India’s regional position, strengthen India’s manufacturing sector, improve domestic technological capabilities, and produce more weapons at home.
(b) Build stronger partnerships with other major powers. India’s policy of strategic autonomy is not a hindrance to it because all countries practice strategic autonomy to the extent they can. Partnerships should be based on negotiated mutually beneficial terms.
(3) If India becomes a $3-trillion economy, its ability to engage with the other powers will improve along with the growth of its comprehensive national power.
(4) India must take global leadership in managing the enormous consequences of the unfolding technological revolution, stabilizing the economic order, and addressing the challenges of climate change and pandemics.
(5) On its way to 2047, India has to continue its pursuit of multilateralism, at the UN, G-20, and WTO. India should make coalitions of like-minded nations.
(6) India must look beyond the immediate neighborhood to more effectively engage with Africa, Latin America, and Oceania where Delhi’s footprint remains light, despite some recent initiatives.
Domestic Ingredients for making India a developed nation
Promoting social justice, internal unity, economic modernisation, resilient political institutions, and deep bases of science and technology.
