India’s External Relations
Politics in India since Independence • NCERT Solutions • Chapter 4
Objective Type Questions
1. Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ against each of these statements.
(a) Non-alignment allowed India to gain assistance both from USA and USSR: True
(b) India’s relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning: False (Relations with China were friendly until the late 1950s).
(c) The cold war has affected the relationship between India and Pakistan: True (Pakistan joined US blocs like SEATO/CENTO, while India leaned towards NAM/USSR).
(d) The treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India’s closeness to USA: False (It was a result of closeness to the USSR).
(b) India’s relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning: False (Relations with China were friendly until the late 1950s).
(c) The cold war has affected the relationship between India and Pakistan: True (Pakistan joined US blocs like SEATO/CENTO, while India leaned towards NAM/USSR).
(d) The treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India’s closeness to USA: False (It was a result of closeness to the USSR).
2. Match the following:
| Term / Person | Description |
|---|---|
| (a) The goal of India’s foreign policy 1950-64 | (ii) Preservation of territorial integrity, sovereignty and economic development |
| (b) Panchsheel | (iii) Five principles of peaceful coexistence |
| (c) Bandung Conference | (iv) Led to the establishment of NAM |
| (d) Dalai Lama | (i) Tibetan spiritual leader who crossed over to India |
Short Answer Questions
3. Why did Nehru regard conduct of foreign relations as an essential indicator of independence? State any two reasons with examples.
Nehru believed that a nation is truly independent only when it can decide its own course in world affairs without external pressure.
Reasons:
Reasons:
- Sovereignty: Foreign policy allows a nation to protect its territorial integrity. Example: India refused to join the US or Soviet blocs to maintain its sovereignty.
- Self-Reliance: It enables a country to seek economic aid on its own terms. Example: India accepted aid from both blocs (e.g., steel plants from USSR and food aid from USA) without becoming a satellite state.
4. “The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two-way interaction between domestic compulsions and prevailing international climate”. Take one example from the 1960s.
Example: The 1962 Sino-Indian War.
- International Climate: The Cold War was at its peak, and the rift between the USSR and China was widening. China wanted to assert its dominance in Asia.
- Domestic Compulsions: Domestically, there was immense pressure on Nehru to defend Indian borders in Aksai Chin and NEFA. Public opinion was fiercely nationalistic.
- Outcome: This forced India to abandon its idealism (“Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai”) and seek military aid from the West (USA/UK), temporarily altering its non-aligned stance due to domestic security needs.
6. Write short notes on the following.
(a) India’s Nuclear Policy:
India’s nuclear policy focuses on peaceful use of nuclear energy. However, after the 1974 Pokhran test, India demonstrated its capability. Key tenets include:
(b) Consensus in Foreign Policy Matters:
Despite intense political rivalry within India, there has historically been a broad national consensus on foreign policy. Most parties (Congress, BJP, Left) agree on core principles like national integrity, protection of international borders, and national interest. For instance, the policy of Non-Alignment was supported by almost all parties during the Cold War.
India’s nuclear policy focuses on peaceful use of nuclear energy. However, after the 1974 Pokhran test, India demonstrated its capability. Key tenets include:
- Refusal to sign the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) as it is discriminatory.
- “No First Use” policy (adopted later).
- Commitment to global, verifiable, and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.
(b) Consensus in Foreign Policy Matters:
Despite intense political rivalry within India, there has historically been a broad national consensus on foreign policy. Most parties (Congress, BJP, Left) agree on core principles like national integrity, protection of international borders, and national interest. For instance, the policy of Non-Alignment was supported by almost all parties during the Cold War.
Critical Analysis
7. India fought three wars between 1962 and 1971. Was this a failure of foreign policy or a result of the international situation?
It was largely a result of the international situation rather than a failure of the principles of foreign policy, though execution had flaws.
Arguments:
Arguments:
- Aggressive Neighbours: The 1962 war was caused by China’s expansionist ambitions, and the 1965/1971 wars were initiated by Pakistan’s aggression. A peaceful foreign policy cannot prevent a neighbor from attacking.
- Global Dynamics: The US support for Pakistan (military aid) and the Cold War dynamics emboldened Pakistan to attack India.
- Self-Defense: Fighting these wars was actually a success of foreign policy in terms of defending sovereignty (1965) and liberating Bangladesh (1971).
- Critique: However, the 1962 defeat exposed a failure in threat assessment—Nehru trusted China too much and neglected military preparedness.
8. Does India’s foreign policy reflect her desire to be an important regional power? Argue with the Bangladesh war of 1971 as an example.
Yes, definitely. The 1971 war is the clearest example of India asserting itself as the dominant regional power in South Asia.
Arguments:
Arguments:
- Unilateral Intervention: India intervened in East Pakistan despite opposition from the US and China, showing strategic autonomy.
- Military Dominance: The decisive victory dismantled the two-front threat from Pakistan, establishing India as the pre-eminent military power in the subcontinent.
- Diplomatic Maneuver: Signing the Indo-Soviet Treaty (1971) neutralized the US-China-Pakistan axis, showcasing astute diplomatic capability to secure regional interests.
9. How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign policy? Explain with examples from India.
Political leadership sets the tone, priority, and style of foreign policy.
- Jawaharlal Nehru (Idealism): His worldview shaped the policy of Non-Alignment, Afro-Asian unity, and Panchsheel. He prioritized moral leadership and diplomacy over military hard power.
- Indira Gandhi (Realism): She shifted the policy towards “Realpolitik.” Under her, India became more assertive militarily (1971 War) and conducted the first nuclear test (1974), signaling a shift from idealism to securing hard power status.
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Pragmatism): He conducted the 1998 nuclear tests but also made bold peace overtures to Pakistan (Bus Diplomacy), balancing strength with dialogue.
10. Read the passage by Nehru and answer the questions.
(a) Why does Nehru want to keep off military blocs?
He believed that joining a bloc restricts a nation’s freedom to make independent decisions (“view things… independently”). It drags a country into conflicts that are not of its own making.
(b) Did the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty violate non-alignment?
Technically, No. The treaty was not a military alliance like NATO or the Warsaw Pact. It did not force India to host Soviet troops or fight Soviet wars. It was a diplomatic assurance of support in case of aggression (specifically to counter the US-Pakistan threat in 1971). India retained its right to maintain relations with other countries.
(c) If there were no military blocs, would non-alignment be unnecessary?
The term might be unnecessary, but the principle would remain valid. Non-alignment is fundamentally about independent judgment and sovereignty. Even without blocs, a nation needs the policy to decide issues on their merit rather than following the dictates of a powerful hegemony.
He believed that joining a bloc restricts a nation’s freedom to make independent decisions (“view things… independently”). It drags a country into conflicts that are not of its own making.
(b) Did the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty violate non-alignment?
Technically, No. The treaty was not a military alliance like NATO or the Warsaw Pact. It did not force India to host Soviet troops or fight Soviet wars. It was a diplomatic assurance of support in case of aggression (specifically to counter the US-Pakistan threat in 1971). India retained its right to maintain relations with other countries.
(c) If there were no military blocs, would non-alignment be unnecessary?
The term might be unnecessary, but the principle would remain valid. Non-alignment is fundamentally about independent judgment and sovereignty. Even without blocs, a nation needs the policy to decide issues on their merit rather than following the dictates of a powerful hegemony.