What Is India’s Neighborhood First Policy? | UPSC International Relations

India is a vast country and shares its geographical boundaries with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. India’s Policy towards the immediate neighborhood is based on efforts to build peace, harmony, and cooperation. The neighborhood-first policy focuses on encouraging trade, connectivity, and people-to-people contact.

Features of India’s Neighborhood First Policy 

1. Priority to neighboring countries: The priority is to improve the relations with the neighboring countries to promote peace and tranquility. The neighborhood’s first policy actively focuses on improving ties with India’s immediate neighbors. 

2. Dialogue: The policy focuses on regional diplomacy by engaging with the neighboring nations and building political connectivity through dialogue. The first step towards this was extending an invitation to all heads of government of SAARC countries for the oath-taking ceremony of the Prime Minister. 

3. Connectivity: India has entered into an MoU with members of the SAARC(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). The agreements ensure a free flow of resources, energy, goods, labor, and information across borders. 

4. Resolving the issues between the countries: The main focus of the policy is to focus on resolving bilateral issues through mutual agreements. For example, India and Bangladesh have signed a pact to operationalize the historic Land Boundary Agreement(LBA). 

5. Economic support: The Policy focuses on enhancing trade ties with neighbors. India has participated and invested in SAARC. Example of Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal grouping for energy development is motor vehicles, waterpower management, and inter-grid community. 

6. Technical Support: The policy focuses on putting emphasis on technical cooperation. The dedicated SAARC satellite was developed to share the fruits of technology like telemedicine, e-learning, and others with people across South Asia. 

7. Disaster support: India has always shown full support for disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting, communication, and capabilities for all south Asian citizens. In the year 2016, India provided immense assistance to its neighbor Nepal. 

8. Military and Defense cooperation: India is focusing on developing security in the region through military cooperation and support from powerful countries. The country has also planned military exercises with Bangladesh, Nepal, and America. India has also played a greater role in the capacity building of the Afghan National Army by providing required training to them.

Challenges of India’s Neighborhood First Policy 

1. Relation issues with Pakistan: The Relation with Pakistan, remains India’s biggest concern and security challenges. Terrorism is a concern that has completely destroyed the relations between India and Pakistan. 

2. Unstable Afghanistan: Afghanistan is a fragile country and they are facing external threats from Pakistan. Indian support for this country is active in international efforts to stabilize the country. 

3. China: The issues with China have been a big challenge to India. Especially after the Covid times, India has started banning the China apps and china products as well. Another factor that is affecting the relationship with China is its relationship with Pakistan. 

India’s neighborhood-first policy directly impacts the geo-political factors and improves the economic factors between the countries. The focus of this policy is always on sustainable development and helping India to rise as a superpower.

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