🌐 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (GS-II) · Complete Explainer
Syllabus (GS-II): India and its neighbourhood; bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India or affecting India's interests; effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests; the Indian diaspora; important international institutions, agencies and fora — their structure and mandate. Why it matters: IR is heavily current-affairs driven — learn the static frame here, then attach each summit/agreement as it happens.
1. PRINCIPLES OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY
- Non-alignment → strategic autonomy → multi-alignment. Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence). Core interests: security, development, energy, diaspora, technology, climate.
- Instruments: diplomacy, defence, economy, soft power (yoga, cinema, diaspora), development partnership (lines of credit).
2. INDIA & ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD ("Neighbourhood First")
- Pakistan: terrorism, Kashmir, Indus Waters Treaty, ceasefire; no normal trade.
- China: boundary dispute (LAC — Galwan 2020), trade deficit, string of pearls, competition in South Asia; managed rivalry.
- Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Afghanistan: connectivity, water, borders, Chinese influence, refugees; Gujral Doctrine (non-reciprocity with smaller neighbours).
- Policies: Neighbourhood First, Act East, SAGAR (maritime), connectivity (BBIN, trilateral highways).
3. BILATERAL — MAJOR POWERS
- USA: strategic partnership, defence (foundational agreements — LEMOA, COMCASA, BECA), iCET (technology), trade frictions, Indo-Pacific.
- Russia: defence legacy (S-400), energy, but ties tested by Ukraine war and Russia-China proximity.
- EU/UK/France/Germany/Japan/Australia: trade, technology, Indo-Pacific, FTAs.
- West Asia: energy, ~9 million diaspora, remittances; I2U2, India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC); balancing Israel & Arab states & Iran (Chabahar).
- Africa & Latin America: development partnership, resources, markets, South-South cooperation.
4. REGIONAL & GLOBAL GROUPINGS
SAARC (stalled) · BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal) · ASEAN (Act East)
SCO (Eurasia, security) · BRICS (emerging economies, expansion)
G20 (India hosted 2023) · G7 (outreach) · QUAD (Indo-Pacific: India-US-Japan-Australia)
IORA · Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) · I2U2 · IMEC
NAM · Commonwealth · IBSA
- Know each grouping's members, purpose, India's role, and recent summit outcomes.
5. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS — STRUCTURE & MANDATE
| Body | Mandate / note |
|---|---|
| UN & UNSC | peace & security; India seeks permanent seat (UNSC reform, G4) |
| UNGA, ECOSOC, ICJ, ILO, WHO, UNESCO, UNEP | specialised mandates |
| IMF | balance-of-payments stability, quotas |
| World Bank Group | development finance (IBRD, IDA, IFC) |
| WTO | trade rules; disputes; agriculture & subsidies debates |
| UNFCCC / IPCC | climate |
| FATF | anti-money-laundering / terror financing (grey list) |
| New groupings | AIIB, NDB (BRICS bank), ISA (International Solar Alliance — India-led), CDRI |
6. DEVELOPED vs DEVELOPING COUNTRY POLICIES — EFFECT ON INDIA
- Trade: protectionism, tariffs, CBAM (EU carbon border tax), subsidies at WTO.
- Technology: export controls, semiconductor supply chains, data flows.
- Climate: CBDR-RC, climate finance ($100bn), technology transfer.
- Migration/visas: H-1B, skilled mobility.
- Finance: US Fed rates → capital flows & rupee.
7. INDIAN DIASPORA
- ~32 million (NRIs + PIOs); largest recipient of remittances (~$100bn+).
- Roles: remittances, investment, soft power, lobbying, knowledge networks.
- Policy: OCI cards, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, evacuation diplomacy (Vande Bharat, Operation Ganga/Kaveri).
Answer-writing tips (GS-II IR)
- Frame with interests → challenges → way forward; use a recent summit/agreement as evidence.
- Show balance (e.g., strategic autonomy between US and Russia); avoid partisan framing.