Insights, a blog published by IMPRI.
As the two most powerful nations— the United States and China—battle for dominance, India’s foreign policy has entered a new era of strategic calculation. My research, titled “India’s Balancing Act: Navigating US-China Rivalry,” explores how India is responding to this evolving global dynamic while protecting its core interests.
It was during the month of January when I had enrolled myself in a course that delved into the dynamic between power and a country’s foreign policy that I first came across the distant outline of my present paper (now titled: Trump 2.0 and its Implications for the China-Russia-North Korea Triangle: A Comparative Analysis of the U.S. Foreign Policy [2017-2025]).
After three postponements and the severe earthquake that shook Thailand and Myanmar, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) scheduled its sixth summit in Bangkok for April 4, 2025. The decision to proceed with the summit underscored not only the resilience of the host city but also the enduring relevance of this year’s agenda—BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open. Leaders of the seven member states—India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan—explored ways of infusing greater momentum into this regional organisation through various institutional and capacity-building measures. This was the first in-person gathering of the regional leaders after the fourth summit in Nepal in 2018.
Know India Programme (KIP) is an initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for the youth of India between the age group of 21-35 years. The main goal of this scheme is to build a closer connection between the youth of the country and their ancestral homeland by providing a deeper understanding of India. This programme provides a platform for the youth of Indian origin or the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) youth to familiarise themselves with contemporary India and its diverse aspects This consists of about three weeks ‘knowledge tourism programme providing them exposure to different sectors of growth and development of India. The programme is open to youth of Indian origin (excluding Non-Resident Indians) with preference given to PIOS from Girmitiya countries, which include Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa and Jamaica.
The Accelerating State Education Program to Improve Results (ASPIRE) is a significant educational initiative that the Government of India implemented with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Approved in 2021 with a $500 million loan, ASPIRE aligns with the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Samagra Shiksha (Integrated Scheme for School Education) that was launched in 2018 by combining previous central schemes supporting primary education (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), secondary education (Rashitriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan), and teacher education.
Since February 1 when new tariffs were announced, there have been rapid flip flops on policy.
In an era of escalating global tensions, India’s diplomatic stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict stands out as a blend of restraint and pragmatism. While the world watches polarized powers clash, India has charted its own course, urging dialogue over division. This approach echoes an ancient Jain philosophy—Anekantavada, the doctrine of multiple perspectives or pluralism.