Section Article

India’s Foreign Policy in Transition: From ‘Act East’ to ‘Neighbourhood First’
Author(s): Aakash Kumar

Abstract
India’s foreign policy has long been a dynamic reflection of its civilizational ethos strategic compulsions and geopolitical ambitions. From the early ideals of non-alignment during the Cold War to economic liberalization-driven diplomacy in the post-1991 era India has sought to recalibrate its international posture in accordance with shifting global and regional realities. In recent years however Indian foreign policy has undergone a more nuanced transformation—one marked by a renewed focus on its immediate periphery even as it expands strategic engagements eastward. Two major paradigms—‘Act East’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’—have emerged as core doctrines in India’s external relations. The transition from a largely symbolic ‘Look East’ approach to a more assertive and strategic ‘Act East’ policy coupled with an intensifying focus on regional diplomacy under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ initiative reveals a conscious shift toward both expanding influence and stabilizing the subcontinent.