INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY (CHAPTER 3)

NOTES

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS CHAPTER:

PRINCIPLES OF INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
INDO-US RELATIONS
INDO-RUSSIA RELATIONS
INDIA- ISRAEL RELATIONS
INDO-CHINA RELATIONS
INDIA’S NUCLEAR POLICY

TIMELINE/ IMPORTANT DATES/FACTS

1. Panchsheel Agreement signed b/w India and China- 1954 by Indian PM Nehru
and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai
2. China took over control of Tibet- 1950
3. Armed uprising in Tibet against China’s occupation- 1958
4. Dalai Lama crossed over into the Indian border and sought asylum- 1959
5. The Chinese occupied the Aksai-chin area and built a strategic road there-
Between 1957 and 1959
6. China launched a swift and massive invasion on India - October 1962
7. Communist China conducted nuclear tests - October 1964
8. Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to China considered a turning point and a breakthrough in
Sino-Indian relations- 1988
9. First Non-Aligned Summit was held- 1961 in Belgrade
10. Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) - 1968
11. Third Five Year Plan (1961-66) was followed by three Annual Plans
12. Fourth Plan could be initiated only in- 1969 as Govt embarked on a ‘Plan
Holiday’
13. Arab-Israel War – 1973
14. First nuclear explosion undertaken by India in May 1974
15. Second nuclear explosion undertaken by India in May 1998
16. Janata Party government came to power – 1977 announced that it would follow
genuine non-alignment
17. Britain attacked Egypt over the Suez Canal issue and USSR invaded Hungary-
1956

Q1. Which factors influence the foreign policy of developing nations? OR

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 “Developing nations pursue more modest goals than the advanced states.” What are
these goals?
Ans: Both the domestic and international environment influence the foreign policy of
a nation.
i. Since the developing countries lack the resources to advocate their concerns in the
international system, so they pursue more modest goals than the advanced states.
ii. They focus more on peace and development in their own neighbourhood.
iii. Moreover, their economic and security dependence on the more powerful and
richer states occasionally influences their foreign policy.
iv. For ex: During the Cold War, several military alliances came into existence such as
the NATO, SEATO, and CENTO. Many newly independent countries became a
part of these alliance systems for increasing their economic and security powers.

Q2. What does Article 51 of the Indian constitution relate to?

Ans: Article 51 relates to the constitutional provisions and the DPSPs with respect to
India’s foreign policy. It states that the State shall endeavour to –:
a) Promote international peace and security
b) Maintain just and honourable relations between nations
c) Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations; and
d) Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.”

Q3. Give the background under which India adopted its foreign policy as an
independent nation state. OR
Which concerns were reflected in India’s foreign policy after independence? OR
What were the main features of the international situation at the time of India’s
independence in 1947? OR
“The foreign policy of a nation reflects the interplay of domestic and external
factors.” Explain with reference to the Indian example.
Ans: Just as both internal and external factors guide the behaviour of an individual or a
family, both domestic and international environment influence the foreign policy of a
nation.
India was born in a very trying and challenging international context. Free India’s foreign
policy reflected all these concerns in the period immediately after Independence.
i. The world had witnessed a devastating war and was grappling with issues of
economic reconstruction;
ii. many new countries were emerging as a result of the collapse of colonialism;
iii. And most new nations were trying to come to terms with the twin challenges of
welfare and democracy.

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 iv. Cold War was just beginning and the world was getting divided into the two
camps, namely, the US-led capitalist bloc and the Soviet-led Communist Bloc
v. Establishment of the UNO in 1945
vi. Massive arms race had begun, nuclear arsenal kept rising and the imposition of the
NPT legitimising the monopoly of the five nuclear weapons powers
vii. Rise of Communist China and the
viii. Beginning of the process of decolonisation- Many newly independent countries in
Asia & Africa
Apart from these factors at the global level, India had its own share of concerns.
ix. The British government left behind the legacy of many international disputes;
x. Partition created its own pressures,
xi. And the task of poverty alleviation was already waiting for fulfilment.
This was the overall context in which India started pursuing its national interests and
participating in the world affairs as an independent nation-state.

Q4. “The Indian national movement was not an isolated process.” Comment.
Ans:
i. True, it was not an isolated process. Instead it was a part of the worldwide
struggle against colonialism and imperialism.
ii. It influenced the liberation movements of many Asian and African countries.
iii. Prior to India’s Independence, there were contacts between the nationalist leaders
of India and those of other colonies, as they were united in their common struggle
against colonialism and imperialism.
iv. The creation of the Indian National Army (INA) by Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose during the Second World War was the clearest manifestation of the
linkages established between India and overseas Indians during the freedom
struggle.

Q5. Describe the role played by Nehru in setting the foreign policy of independent
India.
Ans:
i. Both as the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, Nehru exercised
profound influence in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign
policy from 1946 to 1964.
ii. The three major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy were to:
a. Preserve the hard-earned sovereignty,
b. Protect territorial integrity, and
c. Promote rapid economic development.
iii. Nehru wished to achieve these objectives through the strategy of nonalignment.

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 iv. There were parties, groups in the country and leaders like Dr Ambedkar that
believed that India should be more friendly with the bloc led by the US
because that bloc claimed to be pro-democracy.
v. Some political parties, which were opposed to communism, also wanted India
to follow a pro-US foreign policy. These included the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and
later the Swatantra Party.
vi. But Nehru possessed considerable leeway in formulating the foreign policy of
independent India.

Q6. What was the policy of India at the Suez Canal issue and USSR’s invasion of
Hungary in the same year, 1956? OR
“The policy of NAM was a difficult balancing act and sometimes the balance did not
appear perfect.” Comment with examples.
Ans:
a) In 1956, when Britain attacked Egypt over the Suez Canal issue, India led the world
protest against neo-colonial invasion
b) However, when the USSR invaded Hungary in the same year, India did not join its
public condemnation.

Q7. Describe the role played by India under Nehru in maintaining Afro-Asian unity.
Ans: Nehru always envisaged a major role for India in world affairs and especially in
Asian affairs due to its size, location and power potential. Accordingly, India has played a
significant role:
i. India convened the Asian Relations Conference in March 1947, five months
ahead of attaining its independence.
ii. India made efforts for the early realisation of freedom of Indonesia from the
Dutch colonial regime. It convened an international conference in 1949 to support
the Indonesian freedom struggle.
iii. India was a staunch supporter of the decolonisation process and firmly opposed
racism, especially apartheid in South Africa.
iv. India participated in the Bandung Conference with the newly independent Asian
and African countries. This conference ultimately led to the establishment of the
NAM. This marked the zenith of India’s engagement with the newly independent
Asian and African nations.
v. Nehru was a co-founder of NAM. The first summit of NAM was held in
Belgrade in 1961 in which Nehru participated.

Q8. Which policy limited India’s economic interaction with the outside world?

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 Ans: The policy of import-substitution which laid emphasis on developing a resource
base and a protected economy, thereby restricting export-oriented growth limited
India’s economic interaction with the outside world.

Q9. Describe the various stages in India-china relations from ’47 to ’62.
Ans: The various stages are as follows:
i. Friendly relations:
a) After the Chinese revolution in 1949, India was one of the first countries to
recognise the communist govt. Nehru felt strongly for this neighbour that was
coming out of the shadow of western domination and helped the new government in
the international fora. Nehru thought it was ‘exceedingly unlikely’ that India will face
an attack from China. For a very long time, the Chinese border was guarded by para-
military forces, not the army.
b) Indian PM Nehru and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai signed and adopted the
Panchsheel, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in 1954

ii. Strained relations:

a) China annexed Tibet in 1950, thus removed a historical buffer b/w the two
countries.
b) Chinese forces suppressed an armed uprising in Tibet against China’s occupation
c) In 1959, when the Dalai Lama was granted asylum in India, China alleged that India
was allowing anti-China activities in India.
d) Boundary disputes arose b/w the two countries over the:
 Aksai-chin area in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir
 NEFA region in Arunachal Pradesh
e) The boundary disputes led to the Chinese invasion in October 1962.
f) China declared a unilateral ceasefire but relations b/w both strained.

Q10. Why has the Tibet issue been a major source of conflict b/w India and China?
OR
Explain the circumstances that forced the Tibetans to leave China. Highlight India’s
role in helping the Tibetan refugees.
Ans:
a) In 1950, when China annexed Tibet, large sections of the Tibetan population opposed
this.
b) India tried to persuade China to recognise Tibet’s claims for independence.
c) Intially, India conceded China’s claims over Tibet as it adopted the Panchsheel
Agreement and one of its clauses were mutual non-interference in each other’s internal
affairs.
d) But when the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama informed Nehru about the worsening
situation in Tibet, India couldn’t have turned a blind eye.

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 e) In 1958, the Chinese forces suppressed an armed uprising in Tibet against China’s
occupation.
f) Indian govt granted political asylum to the Dalai Lama in 1959 who had crossed over
into the Indian border for help. In the 1950s and 1960s many political leaders and
parties in India including the Socialist Party and the Jan Sangh supported the cause of
Tibet’s independence.
g) China protested against this. It alleged that India was allowing anti-China activities in
Indian soil.
h) Till date, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is the largest refuge settlement of
Tibetans in India. The Dalai Lama has also made Dharmashala his home in India and
the Tibet issue continues to be a sore point b/w India and China.

Q11. Name the leader who was worried about Chinese aggression.
Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Q12. What were the effects of the Chinese invasion of 1962 on India?
Ans:
i. The war dented India’s image at home and abroad. India had to approach the
Americans and the British for military assistance.
ii. The Soviet Union remained neutral during the conflict.
iii. It induced a sense of national humiliation and at the same time strengthened the
spirit of nationalism.
iv. Some of the top army commanders either resigned or were retired. The then
Defence Minister, V. Krishna Menon, had to leave the cabinet.
v. Nehru’s own stature suffered as he was severely criticised for his naïve assessment
of the Chinese intentions and the lack of military preparedness.
vi. For the first time, a no-confidence motion against his government was moved and
debated in the Lok Sabha.
vii. The Congress lost some key by-elections to Lok Sabha.
viii. The war led to irreconcilable differences within the Communist Party of India
(CPI) which got divided in 1964 into a faction closer to China – CPI (Marxist) and
the pro-USSR faction remained within the CPI and moved towards closer ties with
the Congress.
ix. To preserve national integration and political unity in the north-eastern region, its
reorganisation began. Nagaland was granted statehood; Manipur and Tripura,
though Union Territories, were given the right to elect their own legislative
assemblies.

Q13. When and why were the CPI(M) leaders in India arrested?
Ans: In the wake of the 1962 China war, the CPI(Marxist) leaders were arrested
because of being pro-China.

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Q14. ‘The emerging economies of China and India have great potential to challenge the unipolar
world’. Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate your arguments.

Ans:

1. After the change in China’s political leadership from the mid to late 1970s, China’s
policy became more pragmatic and less ideological. So it was prepared to put off the
settlement of contentious issues while improving relations with India. Relations
between the two countries began to improve slowly. A series of talks to resolve the
border issue were also initiated in 1981. They have continued without interruption and
military-to-military cooperation is increasing.
2. Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to China in December 1988 provided the impetus for an
improvement in India–China relations. Since then both governments have taken
measures to contain conflict and maintain ‘peace and tranquility’ on the border.
They have also signed agreements on cultural exchanges and cooperation in
science and technology, and opened four border posts for trade.
3. Post- Cold War, significant changes have taken place in India– China relations. Their
relations now have a strategic as well as an economic dimension. Both view
themselves as rising powers in global politics, and both would like to play a major
role in the Asian economy and politics.
4. India– China trade is growing at 30 per cent per year since 1999. Bilateral trade
between India and China has increased from $338 million in 1992 to more than $18
billion in 2006.
5. Both countries have agreed to cooperate with each other in areas that could otherwise
create conflict between the two, such as bidding for energy deals abroad.
6. At the global level, India and China have adopted similar policies in international
economic institutions like the World Trade Organisation.
7. India’s nuclear tests in 1998, sometimes justified on the grounds of a threat from
China, did not stop greater interaction.
8. Indian and Chinese leaders and officials visit Beijing and New Delhi with greater
frequency, and both sides are now becoming more familiar with each other.
9. Increasing transportation and communication links, common economic interests and
global concerns should help establish a more positive and sound relationship between
the two most populous countries of the world.

Q15. Identify the contentious issues between China and India. How could these be resolved for
greater cooperation? Give your suggestions.

Ans:

i. TIBET ISSUE

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 ii. BORDER ISSUE (LEADING TO THE 1962 WAR- INDIAN ARMY
SUFFERED HEAVY CASUALTIES IN THE WAR, DENTED THE
RELATIONS EVER SINCE)
iii. CHINA ISSUING STAPLE VISAS TO RESIDENTS OF ARUNACHAL
PRADESH AND KASHMIR
iv. DOKLAM CRISIS
v. CHINA-PAK ALL-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP (CONSTANT SOURCE OF
IRRITANT IN THE EYES OF INDIA) (CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC
CORRIDOR that passes through POK, ONE-BELT ONE-ROAD
INITIATIVE)
vi. CHINA’S CONSTANT OPPOSITION TO INDIA’S BID TO BE A P5
MEMBER
vii. CHINA’S OPPOSITION TO INDIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE NSG
(NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP)
viii. CHINA TRYING TO ENCIRCLE INDIA BY BUILDING PORT CITIES
AROUND INDIA’S NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, SECURING A
MARITIME ROUTE (STRING OF PEARLS THEORY)
ix. THE PRSENT MONTH-LONG TENSE SITUATION ALONG THE LAC
(LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL) OVER SECURING STRATEGIC
DOMINANCE OVER THE GALWAN VALLEY AREA

Q16. Discuss the Indo-US relations as per the criteria given below:
i. Indo-US relations from 1947-1991
ii. Areas of cooperation between India and the US

Ans. i. Indo-US relations from 1947-1991:

a. During the Cold War years, India chose not to get involved in the Cold War and join
the ‘third option’, i.e., NAM.
b. While USA signed the CENTO (Central Treaty Organisation) with Pakistan and
became allies with Pakistan, India on the other hand was closer to the Soviet Union
and signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union for 20
years.
c. USA has always wanted to maintain relations with India in order to counter
Communist China.
d. However, NAM did not prevent India from receiving political and economic aid from
the US. In 1965, when acute droughts and poor harvests hit India, the US
provided millions of dollars for food aid. Moreover, during the 1962 China war, US
provided India with arms and ammunitions to combat China.
e. During the 1971 Bangladesh War, USA openly supported West Pakistan. Later
when India conducted its first nuclear test, US imposed sanctions on India which
prohibited American banks from giving loans to India.
f. However, it is only in 1991, after the end of the Cold War, when India found itself
friendless and in an increasingly hostile international environment, Indo-US

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 relations began to improve gradually with India accepting 100% Foreign Direct
Investment and opening up its market to foreign products.

ii. Areas of cooperation between India and the US:

a. About 65% of India’s software products are exported to the US
b. 35% of the technical staff of Boeing is estimated to be of Indian origin
c. 300,000 Indians work in the Silicon Valley
d. 15% of all high-tech start-ups are by Indian Americans
e. Overall trade between India and US is worth 100 billion dollars currently
f. Since both the countries are threatened by terrorism, they are working together to end
terrorist networks.
g. Both the countries are collaborating on science and technology, education, health and
climate change.
h. India and the US signed a Indo-US Nuclear Deal in 2006 to meet India’s growing
energy demands.

Q17. What are the two new factors that have emerged in Indo-US relation sin recent
times?

Ans: Technological dimension and Indian American diaspora

Q18. Discuss the varied viewpoints in India regarding the future course of Indo-US
relations.
Ans: In India, there is a debate on around three possible strategies to deal with the US and
the choices are not exactly easy.
i. A section of Indian analysts are fearful of the growing closeness between India
and the US. They argue that India should maintain aloofness from the US and
focus on its own national interest.
ii. Another section of Indian analysts argue that India should take advantage of the
US hegemony and try to extract the best possible advantages for itself, rather
than blindly opposing the US in whatever they do, because this option is
ultimately going to hurt India in the long run.
iii. A third group of analysts argue that India should take the lead in establishing a
coalition of countries from the developing world. They say that in future, the
coalition would become so powerful that it may pose a formidable challenge
to US hegemony.
However, India-US relations are perhaps too complex to be managed by any one
single strategy. Therefore, India needs to adopt an appropriate mix of all the
strategies to deal with the hegemon.

Q19. Examine bilateral relations between India & Israel.

Ans:

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 i. Nearly 45 years after independence, due to political reasons, India's relations with
West Asian countries were mainly concentrated with the Islamic countries.
ii. During this period, India's attitude towards Israel, the only non-Islamic nation in
the region, remained neglected not-withstanding the two nations gaining
independence from the British colonial rule in 1947 and 1948 respectively.
iii. India voted to recognize Israel in 1950, but cold war alignments, fear of alienating
its large Muslim population, and its need to maintain strong ties to the Arab world
for oil, remittances and the Kashmir issue resulted in India adopting an
unsympathetic posture towards Israel. Through most of its post-independence
history, India benefited privately from Israel while refusing to publicly
acknowledge it.
iv. Though historical and cultural ties between India and Israel have gone back to
times immemorial, diplomatic relations formally developed between the two after
the opening of Israeli embassy in India in1992.
v. The relations between the two countries started gaining firmness only after the
formation of the BJP-led NDA Governments in 1996 and 1998 onwards.
vi. Relations between the two democratic nations further intensified with the visits of
the Two Heads of Government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in 2017
and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India in 2018.
vii. More than 30 countries of the UN do not recognize Israel. Hence, being accepted
as a friend by India holds great significance for Israel. It is a win-win situation if
both the countries decide to collaborate.

Q20. Examine India’s relationship with the former Soviet Union during and after the
Cold War.
OR
What were the major consequences of the disintegration of the Soviet Union for
countries like India?
OR
Examine India’s relations with the former USSR after the end of the Cold War.

Ans: The disintegration of the Soviet Union did not make much difference for countries like
India because India has maintained good relations with all the post-communist countries. But
the strongest relations are still those between Russia and India. India’s relations with Russia
are an important aspect of India’s foreign policy. Indo-Russian relations are embedded in a
history of trust and common interests and are matched by popular perceptions.
i. Russia and India share a vision of a multipolar world order, greater regionalism,
and independent foreign policy for all countries.
ii. More than 80 bilateral agreements have been signed between India and Russia as
part of Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement of 2001.
iii. India benefits from its relationship with Russia on issues like:
 Kashmir and Bangladesh crises,

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  energy supplies, (Since India is an oil importing nation, Russia is important to India
and has repeatedly come to the assistance of India during its oil crises)
 sharing information on international terrorism,
 nuclear energy plans and
 Russia has assisted India’s space industry, for example, by giving the cryogenic
rocket when India needed it.
 collaboration on various scientific projects
 access to Central Asia, and
 balance its relations with China.
iv. Russia stands to benefit from this relationship because:
 India is the second largest arms market for Russia. The Indian military gets most of its
hardware from Russia.
 India is seeking to increase its energy imports from Russia and the republics of
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Cooperation with these republics includes partnership
with and investment by Russia in oilfields.

Q21. Examine India’s special/ multi-dimensional relationship with the former Soviet
Union during the Cold War period.
Ans: During the CW period, India and the USSR shared a ‘special’ relationship which
led the critics to say that India almost belonged to the soviet camp. It was a multi-
dimensional relationship.
Economic: The Soviet Union assisted India’s public sector companies at a time when such
assistance was difficult to get. India received financial and technical help for steel plants like
Bhilai, Bokaro, Vishakhapatnam and machinery plants like Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. The
Soviet Union accepted Indian currency for trade when India was short of foreign exchange.
Political: The Soviet Union supported India’s stand on Kashmir issue in the UN. It supported
India during the 1971 Bangladesh war. India too supported Soviet foreign policy in some crucial
but indirect ways.

Military: India received most of its military hardware from the Soviet Union at a time when
few other countries were willing to part with military technologies.

Culture: Hindi films and Indian culture became popular in the Soviet Union. Indian heroes
from Raj Kapoor to Amitabh Bacchan are household names in Russia and many post-Soviet
countries. A large number of Indian writers and artists visited the USSR

Q22. How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign policy? Explain with
examples.
Ans:
i. In the era of one-party dominance, the Congress party adopted the policy of
‘non-alignment’- not aligning with either of the superpowers, yet later the

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 Congress party was criticised during the 1971 Bangladesh War for having
joined the Soviet alliance system.
ii. However, the Janata Party government that came to power in 1977 announced
that:
 it would follow genuine non-alignment and
 the pro-Soviet tilt in the foreign policy that prevailed during the reign of the
Congress party will be corrected.
iii. Since then, all governments (Congress and non-Congress) have taken
initiatives for restoring better relations with China and entering into close ties
with the US, as Russia has lost its global pre-eminence in the 1990s. so there
has been a consensus in foreign policy matters.
iv. Besides, the contemporary international situation is more influenced by
economic interests than by military interests. This has also made an impact on
India’s foreign policy choices.

Q23. “Foreign policy is always dictated by ideas of national interest.” Justify with
examples.
Ans:
i. Foreign policy is always dictated by ideas of national interest because in the
period after 1990, Russia, though it continues to be an important friend of India,
has lost its global pre-eminence.
ii. This has led to a shift in India’s foreign policy which has shifted to a more pro-US
strategy.
iii. Besides, as the contemporary international situation is more influenced by
economic interests than by military interests, this has also made an impact on
India’s foreign policy choices.

Q24. Discuss/ Examine India’s nuclear policy.

Ans:
i. Nehru had always put his faith in science and technology for rapidly building a
modern India. Thus, a nuclear programme was initiated in the late 1940s under the
guidance of Homi J. Bhabha.
ii. At the same time, Nehru was against nuclear weapons. So he pleaded with the
superpowers for comprehensive nuclear disarmament. However, as the nuclear
arsenal kept rising during the Cold War period and as the P5 countries started
imposing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 on the rest of the
world, India refused to sign it.
iii. India always considered the NPT and CTBT as discriminatory since they were
selectively applicable to the non-nuclear powers and legitimised the monopoly of
the five nuclear weapons powers.

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 iv. Instead, a few years later in 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test which
was described as peaceful explosion. India argued that it was committed to the
policy of using nuclear power only for peaceful purposes.
v. India’s nuclear policy of credible minimum nuclear deterrence:
 Professes “no first use” and
 Emphasises India’s commitment to global, verifiable and non-
discriminatory nuclear disarmament leading to a nuclear weapons free
world.
vi. But in view of contemporary regional security challenges, the present government
led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that the policy of no first
use can be reviewed and changed in consonance with India's regional and national
security.

Q25. Why did India refuse to sign international nuclear treaties like the NPT and the
CTBT?
Ans: India has opposed international treaties like NPT and CTBT aimed at nuclear non-
proliferation because they were:

 Selectively applicable to the non-nuclear powers and

 Legitimised the monopoly of the five nuclear powers, who were also the five
permanent members of the UNSC.

Q26. What are the two vital questions linked to India’s foreign policy?
Ans: One is India’s stand vis-à-vis Pakistan and the other is Indo-US relations.

Q27. Does India’s foreign policy reflect her desire to be an important regional power?
Argue your case with the Bangladesh War of 1971 as an example. [HOTS]
Ans: No, India’s foreign policy does not reflect her desire to be an important regional power.
It was never an objective of her foreign policy.
i. India has always followed a pacifist policy, the principle of peaceful co-existence
and never followed the policy of intervention in the internal affairs of other
countries.
ii. Bangladesh crisis in 1971 was the biggest internal crisis of Pakistan. As the
Pakistani rulers didn’t accept the democracy verdict of the elections as well
Awami Leagues demand for a federation, the people started a struggle to liberate
Bangladesh.
iii. About 80 lacs refugees took shelter in India.
iv. A US-Pakistan-china axis was formed. India signed a twenty year Treaty of Peace
and Friendship with the Soviet Union.
v. The above situation and subsequent events led to war with Pakistan and India was
victorious.

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 vi. India had declared unilateral ceasefire. Pakistani army of about 90,000 soldiers
had to surrender.
vii. Under these circumstances, India could have imposed a harsh treaty on Pakistan,
but it did not do because India’s policy was of ‘peaceful coexistence’.
viii. It never reflected India’s desire to be an important dominant regional power.

Q28. India’s foreign policy displayed idealism while conducting relations with
China. Elaborate this statement with special reference to the period 1947-1962.
[HOTS]
Ans: Unlike its relationship with Pakistan, free India began its relationship with China on
a very friendly note. India did display idealism in its conduct with China during the
period 1947-62.
i. After the Chinese revolution in 1949, India was one of the first countries to
recognise the communist government. Nehru felt strongly for this neighbour that
was coming out of the shadow of western domination and helped the new
government in international fora.
ii. Some of his colleagues, like Vallabhbhai Patel, were worried about a possible
Chinese aggression in future.
iii. But Nehru thought it was ‘exceedingly unlikely’ that India will face an attack
from China.
iv. For this reason, for a very long time, the Chinese border was guarded by para-
military forces, not the army.
v. But at the same time, the Indian Army initiated a Forward Policy in which it
placed several outposts (as many as 60) along the border and established
sovereignty over them. Initially, the Chinese army (PLA) simply withdrew, but
later they began to counter-encircle the Indian positions which clearly encroached
into the north of McMahon Line.
vi. The signing of Panchsheel, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, by the
Indian Prime Minister Nehru and the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai on 29 April
1954 was a step in the direction of stronger and closer relationship between the
two countries.
vii. Indian and Chinese leaders visited each other’s country and were greeted by large
and friendly crowds. The ‘Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai’ slogans became popular.

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EXTRA MATERIAL

Sub-Unit: ‘India-Israel Relations’

Nearly 45 years after independence, due to various reasons, India's foreign policy
with Israel remained largely unexplored notwithstanding the two nations gaining
independence from the British colonial rule in 1947 and 1948 respectively.

Though historical and cultural ties between India and Israel have gone back from
times immemorial, diplomatic relations formally developed between the two after the
opening of Israeliembassy in India in 1992.

After the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the relations between the two
countries started gaining firmness in 1996 and 1998 onwards. Relations between the
two democratic nations further intensified with the visits of the Two Heads of
Government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in 2017 and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu to India in 2018. The two nations have started cooperation in
various fields like cultural exchange, security and defence, counterterrorism, space
research, water and energy and agricultural development.

Sub-Unit: ‘India’s Nuclear Program’ (Updates)

India's nuclear policy has always been peace-oriented, whose clear impression is
reflected inthe policy of No First Use. But in view of contemporary regional security
challenges, the present government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made
it clear that the policy of no first use can be reviewed and changed in consonance
with India's regional and national security. In

addition, India is committed to ensuring its membership in the Nuclear Suppliers

Group (NSG)and opposing partisan and unjust nuclear treaties like CTBT and NPT.

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