Mains Marathon

1.Ans:

Introduction

In 1962, during the India-China war, as Chinese troops advanced across the Himalayas, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reportedly sent an urgent letter to US President John F. Kennedy, requesting military assistance. That moment encapsulated India's foreign policy at the time—defensive, vulnerable, and centered on survival. The geopolitical compulsions of a newly independent nation, burdened by poverty and insecurity, left little room for strategic ambition.

Fast forward to 2023, India hosts the G20 Summit in New Delhi, shaping the global agenda on climate finance, digital public infrastructure, and multilateral reform. Prime Minister Modi proclaims, “The world is looking at India with hope.” This shift—from pleading for protection to leading global platforms—symbolizes a profound transformation in India’s foreign policy.

India’s external engagement is no longer about preserving sovereignty alone. It is now about positioning—asserting influence, balancing power, and shaping global norms.

Body :

Historical Context: Foreign Policy of Survival

• Post-Independence Era:
  • Nehruvian non-alignment to avoid Cold War entanglements.
  • Economic autarky and focus on self-reliance.
  • Threats from China (1962 war), Pakistan (1948, 1965, 1971).
  • Dependence on superpowers for aid, arms (e.g., Indo-Soviet Treaty 1971).
• Challenges to Sovereignty:
  • Regional conflicts, the Kashmir issue at UN.
  • India's nuclear dilemma under NPT/CTBT pressures.
• Diplomacy as a Defensive Tool:
  • Defensive realism, survival-based regional focus.
  • Limited global ambitions; emphasis on Third World solidarity.

Contemporary Shift: Foreign Policy of Positioning

• Strategic Repositioning in a Multipolar World:
  • From non-alignment to strategic autonomy.
  • Engagement in multilateral groupings: QUAD, BRICS, SCO, G20, I2U2.
  • Assertive diplomacy (e.g., Doklam, Balakot, Galwan response).
• Economic Diplomacy:
  • Trade Agreements (UAE CEPA, Australia ECTA).
  • Act East, Indo-Pacific strategy, Africa outreach.
  • Energy security diversification (Russia, Gulf, renewables).
• Leadership Aspirations:
  • G20 Presidency 2023 – showcasing "One Earth, One Family, One Future".
  • Vaccine Maitri and development aid diplomacy.
  • Digital diplomacy, space cooperation, climate leadership (ISA, LiFE initiative).

Key Drivers of the Shift from Survival to Positioning

• Internal Factors:
  • Economic rise (5th largest economy, digital and tech growth).
  • Military modernization and defense exports.
  • Aspirational youth and rising soft power.
• External Factors:
  • Retreat of US hegemony; rise of China.
  • Regional instability in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan.
  • Weaponization of interdependence: semiconductors, supply chains.
• Changing Nature of Diplomacy:
  • From foreign aid recipient to development partner.
  • Assertive stance on global issues (Russia-Ukraine war neutrality).
  • Using diaspora diplomacy and culture as tools of influence.

Case Studies Illustrating the Shift

• G20 Leadership:
  • India’s role in managing global consensus.
  • Voice of the Global South Summit.
• India and the Indo-Pacific:
  • Strategic balancing: QUAD without antagonizing China.
  • SAGAR doctrine for maritime influence.
• Digital Public Infrastructure Diplomacy:
  • India Stack has been exported to African and Latin American countries.
  • Tapping digital soft power.
• Vaccine Diplomacy:
  • Over 150 countries received India-made vaccines.

Challenges in Positioning India Globally

• Geopolitical tensions: China border standoff, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
• Internal contradictions: democratic backsliding concerns, communal issues.
• Strategic Overstretch: balancing ties with Russia, US, and Global South.
• Resource constraints: defense spending <2% of GDP, diplomatic staff shortages.

Way Forward

• Need for institutional foreign policy coherence (revamp MEA, diaspora engagement, think tank diplomacy).
• Strengthen soft power: Ayurveda, Yoga, Indian cinema, digital economy.
• Promote multipolarity with Indian characteristics — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
• Embrace strategic autonomy while engaging with global institutions.

Conclusion :

India’s foreign policy has outgrown its reactive past. As External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar aptly observes, "India’s foreign policy today reflects greater self-confidence, clarity of purpose, and strategic ambition." This transition from survival to positioning mirrors India’s growing capabilities and global aspirations. No longer content with safeguarding its space, India now seeks to define that space, whether in the Indo-Pacific, in climate diplomacy, or in digital rulemaking.

In an era of multipolarity, India’s challenge is to sustain this balance between strategic interests and moral leadership. With visionary statecraft and consistent engagement, India is well on its way to not just securing its future—but shaping the world’s.

2. Ans:

Introduction:

On a tranquil afternoon in April 2025, the serenity of Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley was shattered by a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, claiming the lives of 26 civilians, including newly married Hindu men. The attackers targeted symbols of innocence and faith, leaving behind a trail of grief and national outrage that reverberated across the country. In the days that followed, the Indian government faced a pivotal question: how should a nation respond to such acts of terror that threaten its very fabric?

India’s answer was swift and resolute—Operation Sindoor. In a meticulously coordinated campaign, the Indian Armed Forces launched precision strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting nine major sites linked to groups like LeT, JeM, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The operation was not merely a tactical retaliation; it was a demonstration of India’s military preparedness, inter-service coordination, and strategic restraint. The Indian Navy asserted maritime dominance, the Air Force conducted targeted sorties, and the Border Security Force thwarted infiltration attempts—all under a unified command structure.

Operation Sindoor sent a clear message: when diplomacy and appeals to reason are met with continued aggression, a decisive and prepared military response becomes not only justified but necessary. The operation underscored a timeless strategic principle—to be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. By showcasing its readiness and capability, India aimed not just to punish the perpetrators but to deter future attacks and restore a fragile peace along its borders.

Body :

Historical and Theoretical Foundations

• George Washington: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”
• Realist theory (Thucydides, Hobbes): Peace through power and balance of threats.
• Deterrence theory: The stronger your defence, the lower the chance of conflict (e.g., Cold War MAD doctrine).
• Kautilya’s Arthashastra: Advocates vigorous preparedness even in peacetime.

War Preparedness Preserving Peace

• India’s Strategic Doctrine:
  • India's shift from Non-Alignment to strategic autonomy; development of nuclear deterrence (1998).
  • No First Use policy + credible minimum deterrent—a peace-through-strength approach.
• Cold War & Balance of Power:
  • USA–USSR nuclear standoff: Despite hostility, war was avoided due to mutual deterrence.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Preparedness prevented escalation.
• China’s Aggression and India’s Response:
  • Doklam (2017) and Galwan (2020): Indian military preparedness prevented further escalation.
• Israel’s Defence Posture:
  • Surrounded by hostile neighbors, Israel’s readiness serves as a strong deterrent and secures fragile peace.

Dimensions of Preparedness Beyond Weapons

• Technological and Cyber Preparedness:
  • Importance of cybersecurity, AI in modern warfare.
  • Peace can be disrupted digitally; thus preparedness now includes non-traditional domains.
• Strategic Infrastructure:
  • Border roads, surveillance systems, missile shields act as psychological and physical deterrents.
• Military Diplomacy and Alliances:
  • Exercises like Malabar, Yudh Abhyas, and platforms like QUAD contribute to stability.
• Peacekeeping and Soft Power:
  • India’s role in UN Peacekeeping Missions—preparation for war used to maintain peace globally.

Counterview: Militarization Can Endanger Peace

• Excessive military buildup can provoke arms races (e.g., South Asia, US-China rivalry).
• Military-first policies can divert funds from development and social security.
• Historical examples of miscalculations (e.g., WWI—treaty entanglements + arms race = global war).
• Gandhi’s vision: Peace from justice and dialogue, not force.

Reconciling Both Views: The Need for Balance

• Preparedness must be credible, not provocative.
• Combine hard power with smart power (Joseph Nye): defence + diplomacy + development.
• India’s approach: Defensive posture, non-expansionist, no-first-use, yet militarily alert.
• Peace is best preserved when power is matched by restraint and wisdom.

Way Forward

• Invest in indigenized defence manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence).
• Strengthen cyber and AI warfare capabilities.
• Emphasize military diplomacy and confidence-building measures with neighbours.
• Promote peace through rule-based order, UN reforms, and multilateralism.
• Ensure war preparedness is part of a larger national security and peace strategy, not an end in itself.

Conclusion :

In an increasingly volatile world marked by asymmetric warfare, terrorism, and geopolitical uncertainty, military preparedness is not a provocation—it is prudence. Operation Sindoor exemplified how a disciplined, calibrated, and resolute response to aggression can serve the broader cause of peace and deterrence. It reaffirmed the idea that nations committed to peace must also be capable of defending it.

As India navigates the challenges of a complex security environment, its strategy must blend strength with restraint, and readiness with responsibility. In this light, the insights of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar resonate with enduring relevance:

“A more insecure world needs a more secure India.”

This secure India—strong, prepared, and principled—remains the surest custodian of peace, sovereignty, and stability in the region and beyond.