CHRONICLING INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY SINCE 2014.

“Indian foreign policy has undergone significant transformation since the Modi government took office in 2014,embracing a policy of Inclusivity which more or less is domestic manifestation of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas.Prior to 2014,top-down approach would limit public input in foreign policy.It now has been replaced by a more participatory model.This fact is evident in the government’s efforts to involve diaspora in diplomatic relations.Prime Minister for instance has consistently engaged with NRI’s during his global visits,encouraging them to act as ambassadors for strengthening ties of India with the rest of the world.I remember him saying that every Indian living abroad should encourage five individuals to come to India as a tourist and get apprised of the cultural history of our nation

The Ministry of External Affairs now functions as the extended version of public office,effectively responding to the needs of the people abroad.In this direction notable examples include MADAD portal giving the people an opportunity to register their consular grievances online rescue operations like Ajay to bring home people from Israel-Hamas war zone,Ganga for those stranded in Russia-Ukraine Conflict among others.Seeing the gravity of such operations it is being prioritized that every life counts and is as precious as the life of one living inside the country.Know India Program of the Ministry an initiative to strengthen engagement with young overseas Indians also makes it to the programme of reaching out to the people who may be of any good in fostering our priorities.

Now coming to the framework within which India deals with the rest of the world.It has drastically changed.Underlying principles which guide our foreign policy are policy of engagement,partnership in areas benifitting humanity at large like climate change,tackling radicalism,rules based international order and more importantly reformation of multilateral institutions to reflect current global realities.India is emerging as a voice of global South.It is very firm in its claim that the present world order is discriminatory working to the interests of the global North only.As a matter of fact in the light of these realities,New World Order which favours all and doesn’t make any discrimination,ought to be framed.Via such initiatives India is truly living upto the idea of Vasudeva Khutambukam which translates the whole world is one family.None is alien when it comes to benefiting the nations at large.All the policies/strategies hitherto followed are now readjusted to the present needs.For example the policy of Look East of 1990’s has turned to the Act East in 2014 under the tutelage of Prime Minister Modi underscoring the need to cement our ties with the rest of the world.India’s Neighborhood Policy prioritizes the strengthening of ties with our neighbors,reducing trust deficit, building bridges of friendship and mutually beneficial relations.

New ways have been devised to further our interests in the global realm.For example when it became clear that the SAARC is not goona bring any benefit,India started turning its attention to BIMSTEC.To strengthen the maritime order India joined a new group QUAD other members of which include Japan,Australia and USA.This makes it clear that we now look at the world differently.We too wish to have a role in setting the narrative in global forums.Non-Alignment which once was the salient feature of our policy holds no water.The rule supplanting the same is the Strategic Autonomy which means that there are no permenant friends nor permenant foes but what really matters is the norm of national interest.