Score:
6.5/10
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Topper’s Copy
GS2
International Relations
10 marks
“India’s simultaneous engagement with groupings like ASEAN, Quad, and BRICS reflects its multi-aligned foreign policy approach.” Discuss the opportunities and challenges this presents for India’s diplomacy.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- Multi-aligned foreign policy concept - Understanding India's engagement with diverse groupings
- Opportunities analysis - Benefits of simultaneous engagement with ASEAN, Quad, BRICS
- Challenges analysis - Difficulties and contradictions in managing multiple alignments
- Diplomatic implications - Impact on India's overall foreign policy effectiveness
What you wrote:
India's multi-aligned foreign policy represents a strategic evolution from traditional Non-alignment Movement (NAM) towards multi-vector engagement in a multipolar world. By actively engaging in diverse groupings – QUAD (Security driven), BRICS (Economic-reform driven), ASEAN (regional integration) - India seeks to balance its strategic, economic, and geopolitical interests while preserving strategic autonomy in a complex global order.
[DRAWING: A flowchart showing the structure of multi-alignment.]
Global order → Multi-alignment
→ Strategic → I2U2, QUAD → Security & Tech co-operation.
→ Economic → BRICS, G20 → Finance & Trade reforms.
→ Normative → ASEAN, UN, SCO → Rule, stability & regional voice.
India's multi-aligned foreign policy represents a strategic evolution from traditional Non-alignment Movement (NAM) towards multi-vector engagement in a multipolar world. By actively engaging in diverse groupings – QUAD (Security driven), BRICS (Economic-reform driven), ASEAN (regional integration) - India seeks to balance its strategic, economic, and geopolitical interests while preserving strategic autonomy in a complex global order.
[DRAWING: A flowchart showing the structure of multi-alignment.]
Global order → Multi-alignment
→ Strategic → I2U2, QUAD → Security & Tech co-operation.
→ Economic → BRICS, G20 → Finance & Trade reforms.
→ Normative → ASEAN, UN, SCO → Rule, stability & regional voice.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could briefly mention the geopolitical context driving this approach (e.g., "In an era of US-China rivalry and Russia-Ukraine conflict, India's multi-alignment becomes crucial")
- Can integrate the flowchart into the body section where it would better support the detailed analysis
What you wrote:
Opportunities - expanding strategic space
1) Strategic hedging → minimizes dependency
Eg. India → energy → Russia
→ Security → QUAD
2) Economic diversification. Eg. ASEAN corridors & BRICS New Development bank projects.
3) Leadership in Global South: Eg. India's G20 Presidency projected inclusivity (2023) → One Earth → One Family → One Future
4) Issue based cooperation: Eg. Climate (BRICS), Supply-chains (QUAD), etc.
5) Technology Partnership: Innovation & defence collaboration. Eg. Israel, Russia, Japan, and France.
Opportunities - expanding strategic space
1) Strategic hedging → minimizes dependency
Eg. India → energy → Russia
→ Security → QUAD
2) Economic diversification. Eg. ASEAN corridors & BRICS New Development bank projects.
3) Leadership in Global South: Eg. India's G20 Presidency projected inclusivity (2023) → One Earth → One Family → One Future
4) Issue based cooperation: Eg. Climate (BRICS), Supply-chains (QUAD), etc.
5) Technology Partnership: Innovation & defence collaboration. Eg. Israel, Russia, Japan, and France.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could highlight ASEAN-specific opportunities like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) alternative through bilateral FTAs and Act East Policy implementation
- Can mention BRICS expansion opportunities with new members like UAE, Saudi Arabia enhancing India's Middle East connectivity
- Could add Quad's AUKUS complementarity in Indo-Pacific security architecture
What you wrote:
Challenges - Balancing competing interests
1) Divergent agendas: BRICS (de-dollarisation) v/s QUADs (market orientation).
2) Trust deficits: China's suspicion of QUAD and Russia's discomfort with US proximity.
3) Resource and bandwidth constraints: Diplomatic and financial capacity → strained.
4) Strategic ambiguity: Eg. Ukraine conflict, Israel-Palestine, China-Taiwan, etc.
Challenges - Balancing competing interests
1) Divergent agendas: BRICS (de-dollarisation) v/s QUADs (market orientation).
2) Trust deficits: China's suspicion of QUAD and Russia's discomfort with US proximity.
3) Resource and bandwidth constraints: Diplomatic and financial capacity → strained.
4) Strategic ambiguity: Eg. Ukraine conflict, Israel-Palestine, China-Taiwan, etc.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could elaborate on diplomatic bandwidth challenges like managing simultaneous summits (e.g., BRICS and Quad meetings requiring careful messaging)
- Can add credibility challenges when India's positions appear contradictory to different partners
- Could mention ASEAN centrality vs Quad dynamics creating potential friction in Indo-Pacific strategy
What you wrote:
Way Forward
[DRAWING: A central concept 'Coherent Multi-engagement' is surrounded by five numbered points.]
1. Selective deepening: interest based cooperation.
2. Institutional strengthening: MEA's regional divisions.
3. Economic resilience: Aatmanirbhar & Make in India.
4. Soft power projection: Vaccine Maitri, Mission LiFE.
5. SDG alignment: SDG-9 (Innovation), SDG-16 (Inclusive global governance), SDG-17 (Partnerships for sustainable development).
Way Forward
[DRAWING: A central concept 'Coherent Multi-engagement' is surrounded by five numbered points.]
1. Selective deepening: interest based cooperation.
2. Institutional strengthening: MEA's regional divisions.
3. Economic resilience: Aatmanirbhar & Make in India.
4. Soft power projection: Vaccine Maitri, Mission LiFE.
5. SDG alignment: SDG-9 (Innovation), SDG-16 (Inclusive global governance), SDG-17 (Partnerships for sustainable development).
Suggestions to improve:
- Could specify compartmentalization strategies to manage conflicting interests
- Can add crisis management mechanisms for handling diplomatic contradictions
What you wrote:
India's multi-aligned diplomacy seeks to position India as a balancing power - engaging all, aligning with none exclusively to pursue national interests and global stability. As India marches into Viksit Bharat - 2047 it shall be "Vishwa Mitra Bharat" upholding sovereignty and global responsibility.
"India will not be a camp follower, but a bridge builder." - Dr. S. Jaishankar.
India's multi-aligned diplomacy seeks to position India as a balancing power - engaging all, aligning with none exclusively to pursue national interests and global stability. As India marches into Viksit Bharat - 2047 it shall be "Vishwa Mitra Bharat" upholding sovereignty and global responsibility.
"India will not be a camp follower, but a bridge builder." - Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could emphasize India's unique position as a "swing state" that major powers compete to influence rather than alienate
- Can conclude with India's role in reforming multilateral institutions through its multi-aligned approach
Excellent conceptual understanding and comprehensive coverage of opportunities and challenges. The answer demonstrates strong analytical skills with good use of examples, though it could better integrate diplomatic implications and ASEAN-specific benefits throughout the discussion.
Demand of the Question
- Multi-aligned foreign policy concept - Understanding India's engagement with diverse groupings
- Opportunities analysis - Benefits of simultaneous engagement with ASEAN, Quad, BRICS
- Challenges analysis - Difficulties and contradictions in managing multiple alignments
- Diplomatic implications - Impact on India's overall foreign policy effectiveness
What you wrote:
India's multi-aligned foreign policy represents a strategic evolution from traditional Non-alignment Movement (NAM) towards multi-vector engagement in a multipolar world. By actively engaging in diverse groupings – QUAD (Security driven), BRICS (Economic-reform driven), ASEAN (regional integration) - India seeks to balance its strategic, economic, and geopolitical interests while preserving strategic autonomy in a complex global order.
[DRAWING: A flowchart showing the structure of multi-alignment.]
Global order → Multi-alignment
→ Strategic → I2U2, QUAD → Security & Tech co-operation.
→ Economic → BRICS, G20 → Finance & Trade reforms.
→ Normative → ASEAN, UN, SCO → Rule, stability & regional voice.
India's multi-aligned foreign policy represents a strategic evolution from traditional Non-alignment Movement (NAM) towards multi-vector engagement in a multipolar world. By actively engaging in diverse groupings – QUAD (Security driven), BRICS (Economic-reform driven), ASEAN (regional integration) - India seeks to balance its strategic, economic, and geopolitical interests while preserving strategic autonomy in a complex global order.
[DRAWING: A flowchart showing the structure of multi-alignment.]
Global order → Multi-alignment
→ Strategic → I2U2, QUAD → Security & Tech co-operation.
→ Economic → BRICS, G20 → Finance & Trade reforms.
→ Normative → ASEAN, UN, SCO → Rule, stability & regional voice.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could briefly mention the geopolitical context driving this approach (e.g., "In an era of US-China rivalry and Russia-Ukraine conflict, India's multi-alignment becomes crucial")
- Can integrate the flowchart into the body section where it would better support the detailed analysis
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