UPSC Editorial Analysis: India’s Strategic Convergence of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ Policies
Kartavya Desk Staff
*General Studies-2; Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.*
Introduction
• PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Thailand for the BIMSTEC summit symbolizes a high-level political push to align India’s regional outreach with its core foreign policy doctrines: Neighbourhood First and Act East.
• This convergence highlights India’s pursuit of regional integration, strategic autonomy, and a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.
Bay of Bengal: Pivot of Maritime and Geostrategic Policy
• The Bay of Bengal serves as a geopolitical lynchpin, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific via the Malacca Strait, a global trade chokepoint.
• India’s eastern ports (Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai) are heavily reliant on secure sea lanes for trade and energy supplies.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands act as strategic sentinels, enabling maritime surveillance and force projection across Southeast Asia.
Strengthening Regional Maritime Security
• India’s Indo-Pacific maritime doctrine is reinforced through: Quad framework (India, US, Japan, Australia) promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative that focuses on cooperative security. Malabar naval exercises and maritime dialogues with BIMSTEC and ASEAN nations.
• Quad framework (India, US, Japan, Australia) promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
• SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative that focuses on cooperative security.
• Malabar naval exercises and maritime dialogues with BIMSTEC and ASEAN nations.
• Maritime challenges include: China’s expanding naval presence. Threats from piracy, illegal fishing, and climate-induced sea-level rise.
• China’s expanding naval presence.
• Threats from piracy, illegal fishing, and climate-induced sea-level rise.
BIMSTEC: A Revival in Regionalism
• Established in 1997, BIMSTEC links South and Southeast Asia—bridging SAARC’s limitations and ASEAN’s eastward framework.
• The group promotes: Trade, technology, and energy cooperation. Disaster resilience, counter-terrorism, and connectivity.
• Trade, technology, and energy cooperation.
• Disaster resilience, counter-terrorism, and connectivity.
• With Pakistan’s obstructionism hampering SAARC, BIMSTEC emerges as a viable alternative for regional diplomacy.
ASEAN Linkages via Myanmar and Thailand
• Myanmar and Thailand, as ASEAN members, enhance India’s eastward diplomatic bandwidth.
• This reflects India’s commitment to principled multilateralism and ASEAN centrality in its Indo-Pacific strategy.
India’s Northeastern States: From Borderlands to Growth Corridors
• The Act East Policy integrates Northeast India as a strategic fulcrum: Shift from periphery to economic gateway to Southeast Asia. Major transformation under PM Modi: ₹5 lakh crore+ invested in capital expenditure in past decade. Integrated road-rail-air infrastructure developed: IMT Trilateral Highway (India–Myanmar–Thailand). Trans Arunachal Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Project, and expanded rail/electricity grids.
• Shift from periphery to economic gateway to Southeast Asia.
• Major transformation under PM Modi: ₹5 lakh crore+ invested in capital expenditure in past decade. Integrated road-rail-air infrastructure developed: IMT Trilateral Highway (India–Myanmar–Thailand). Trans Arunachal Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Project, and expanded rail/electricity grids.
• ₹5 lakh crore+ invested in capital expenditure in past decade.
• Integrated road-rail-air infrastructure developed: IMT Trilateral Highway (India–Myanmar–Thailand). Trans Arunachal Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Project, and expanded rail/electricity grids.
• IMT Trilateral Highway (India–Myanmar–Thailand).
• Trans Arunachal Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Project, and expanded rail/electricity grids.
• Border connectivity improved through: Underwater tunnels, all-weather roads (PM Gram Sadak Yojana), and UDAN air routes. Vibrant Villages Programme promotes livelihood and security in border zones like Arunachal and Sikkim.
• Underwater tunnels, all-weather roads (PM Gram Sadak Yojana), and UDAN air routes.
• Vibrant Villages Programme promotes livelihood and security in border zones like Arunachal and Sikkim.
Conflict Resolution and Governance Reforms in Northeast
• Strategic peacebuilding initiatives: 2015 NSCN peace accord in Nagaland marked a turning point in resolving insurgency. Increased political representation and administrative decentralization.
• 2015 NSCN peace accord in Nagaland marked a turning point in resolving insurgency.
• Increased political representation and administrative decentralization.
• Focus on inclusive development and trust-building: Skill development, organic farming, local entrepreneurship (e.g., Sikkim’s organic state model). Emphasis on ecological conservation, balancing growth with sustainability.
• Skill development, organic farming, local entrepreneurship (e.g., Sikkim’s organic state model).
• Emphasis on ecological conservation, balancing growth with sustainability.
BIMSTEC 2024 Summit Highlights
• Focus on Vision 2030, outlining sustainable and equitable regional development.
• PM Modi’s 21-point action plan includes: Joint disaster response (e.g., Myanmar-Thailand earthquake cooperation). Collaboration in space tech and IT. Cross-border transport and connectivity agreements.
• Joint disaster response (e.g., Myanmar-Thailand earthquake cooperation).
• Collaboration in space tech and IT.
• Cross-border transport and connectivity agreements.
BIMSTEC’s Economic Potential and India’s Trade Strategy
• BIMSTEC region represents: 1.7 billion people (~22% of global population). Combined GDP of over $3.6 trillion.
• 1.7 billion people (~22% of global population).
• Combined GDP of over $3.6 trillion.
• Opportunities for India: Diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on congested northern corridors. Promote coastal shipping and inland waterways as low-carbon trade infrastructure. Strengthen India’s export resilience through value chains in textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on congested northern corridors.
• Promote coastal shipping and inland waterways as low-carbon trade infrastructure.
• Strengthen India’s export resilience through value chains in textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
India’s Vision for Regional Order
• India promotes a rules-based regional architecture, rejecting bloc politics and coercive infrastructure diplomacy.
• BIMSTEC, under India’s stewardship, can: Serve as a model of functional multilateralism. Provide counterweight to China’s BRI by focusing on transparent and sustainable connectivity. Enable South-Southeast Asia economic integration aligned with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• Serve as a model of functional multilateralism.
• Provide counterweight to China’s BRI by focusing on transparent and sustainable connectivity.
• Enable South-Southeast Asia economic integration aligned with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
Conclusion
• India’s internal transformation (Northeast) and external engagements (BIMSTEC, Act East) form a synergistic strategy.
• The summit reinforced India’s role as a leading power in the Indo-Pacific and a steadfast neighbour in a volatile region.
• As challenges mount—China’s assertiveness, climate risks, and economic volatility—India’s calibrated diplomacy via BIMSTEC offers a resilient model for regionalism and collective growth.
Discuss how the convergence of India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” policies are shaping India’s regional leadership in South and Southeast Asia, with special reference to BIMSTEC. (250 Words)