International Relations of India after 1990 that is the rise of Indian foreign affairs after the period of cold war. India's situation in January 1991 before IMF's funds.
2. INTRODUCTION
• The year 1991 was a defining moment in the history of
India’s foreign and foreign economic policies in the post
cold war scenario.
• The collapse and disintegration of the USSR.
• Before the 90s India was probably one of the least
preferred economies in the world.
• India was founding members of many International
Organisations.
3. ECONOMY OF INDIA
• India’s economy was growing three times faster in 1950’s and 1960’s as compared to
British Raj but it came to stagnant position in 1980’s.
• Before IMF came to India’s rescue, India’s foreign exchange reserves was of mere two
weeks in January 1991 .
• GDP per capita nearly doubled from US$1,380 in 1990 to US$2,420 in 2000.
• Foreign exchange reserves, which had plunged to zero, surged to 50 billion US
dollars.
• Foreign direct investment (mainly from USA, UK, Germany and Japan) started to
become positive.
6. RELATIONS WITH U.S.
• Relations between India and the United States were lukewarm following Indian
independence, as India took a leading position in the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Since the end of the Cold War, India-USA relations have improved dramatically.
• The economic sanctions imposed by the United States in response to India's
nuclear tests in May 1998 appeared, at least initially, to seriously damage Indo-
American relations.
• United States would lend its support to India's bid for a permanent seat in the
United Nations Security Council.
7. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIAN
FEDERATION
• During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union (USSR) enjoyed a strong strategic,
military, economic and diplomatic relationship.
• Russia has been the largest supplier of military equipment to India Consists of 68% of
total import.
• Russian Federation would lend its support to India's bid for a permanent seat in the
United Nations Security Council.
• In recent years a sixth component, economic, has grown in importance with both
countries setting a target for US$30 billion in bilateral trade by 2025.
8. RELATIONS WITH PEOPLES REPUBLIC
OF CHINA
• Fought one war in 1962 over boundary disputes over Aksai Chin and Arunachal
Pradesh.
• A series of high-level visits between the two nations have helped improve relations.
• Sino-Indian relations suffered a brief setback in May 1998 when the country's nuclear
tests by citing potential threats from the Peoples Republic Of China.
• In 2003, India formally recognised Tibet as a part of China, and China recognised
Sikkim as a formal part of India in 2004.
• Sino-Indian trade reached US$65.47 billion in 2013–14, making China the single
largest trading partner of India.
9. RELATIONS WITH PAKISTAN
• Fought four wars since independence in 1948,1965,1971 and 1999 of which three were on
Kashmir border dispute.
• The fact of secular democracy in a neighbourhood country often seemed threating to
Pakistani military rulers.
• In 1998, India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests which was followed by Pakistan's
Chagai-I tests. Following the Lahore Declaration in February 1999.
• The 2008 Mumbai attacks seriously undermined the relations between the two countries.
India alleged Pakistan of harbouring militants on their soil, while Pakistan vehemently
denies such claims.
• The Samjhauta Express and Delhi–Lahore Bus service are two of these successful measures
which have played a crucial role in expanding people-to-people contact between the two
countries.
10. ACHIEVEMENTS
• India took part in several UN peacekeeping missions. In 2007 it
was second largest troop contributions to UN.
• India is currently seeking a permanent seat UN security council
along with the other G-4 nations.
• India's closest include the Russian Federation, Israel, Afghanistan,
France, Bhutan Bangladesh, and the United States.
• India enjoys military ties with several countries with United
Kingdom, United States, Japan, Singapore, Brazil, South Africa and
Italy.
12. CONCERNS
• Even as India is increasing its geo-strategic sphere of South Asia, its influence
within it is steadily weakened by Chinese economic and military power.
• New Delhi’s focus on terrorism has compromised India’s strategic relationship
with China.
• India's insufficient commercial integration with Southeast and East Asia.
• Gaps between diplomatic efforts and agents of domestic implementation.
• Political resistance to engagement with Pakistan.
• Relative inexperience with leading on matters of global governance
13. WAY FORWARD
• Long-term strategic thinking requires intellectual depth and an ability to look
beyond the tactical considerations.
• There needs to be institutional coordination and follow-up action on the
government’s key initiatives.
• If there are well-articulated strategic doctrines, institutions will learn to refer to them
and adjust their policies accordingly, leading to a lot more coherence in the
country’s strategic behavior.
• A national security doctrine would require a great deal of political consultation,
careful scenario building, and net assessment by experts.
• Strategic thinking can flourish when the political class commits to institutional
reform, intellectual investment and consensus building.
