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Neutrality is a negative concept. It means to adopt an attitude of indifference to the events in the world whereas Non-alignment is a positive concept. It means to judge international developments on the basis of merit and logic and to maintain balance between two superpowers.

Main Principles of India’s Foreign Policy:

1. Peaceful Co-existence: In 1954, the principles of Panchsheel were signed between India and China for mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and integrity, non-violence, nonintervention, mutual respect and cooperation and peaceful co-existence. But China violated them in 1962.

2. Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes: In all situations, India has tried to solve all international matters through peaceful talks, agreements, as Indus-Water Treaty 1960, Tashkent Pact 1966, Shimla Pact 1972 and Farakka Pact 1977 besides helping UNO to solve peacefully Korea war, Vietnam war, Suez crisis, Congo crisis, etc.

3. Non-Alignment: It is the most important base of India’s foreign policy. Its significance was specially felt during the period when the world was divided into two superpowers and there was an atmosphere of Cold War. India chose this path of not joining either of the blocs so as to judge the international events on the basis of merit and logic. It has helped India to get technical, economic and political help from the countries of both the blocs. Even after the disintegration USSR, its relevance continues to exist in view of reorganization of UNO, process of Democratization, New global economic policy, etc.

4. Opposition to Colonialism and Imperialism: India has helped many Afro-Asian countries as Indonesia, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Namibia, etc. in their fight against colonialism and imperialism. India rendered a great help to Bangladesh in its liberation. Even today India is opposing neocolonialism.

5. Opposition to Racial Discrimination: India helped South Africa in its fight against racialism and colour- discrimination till the end, and finally Nelson Mandela won the elections and formed the government.

6. Support to UNO: India assisted UNO to solve Korea and Vietnam problems and sent her peace forces to establish peace in Congo, Somalia, Yugoslavia, etc. A few examples of India’s active participation in the UNO – Nagendra Singh was the Chief Justice and B.N. Rao and R.S Pathak were the judges of the International Court of Justice. Smt. Vijay Laxmi Pandit was the Chairperson of the General Assembly of UNO.

7. Policy of Collective Opposition to International Terrorism: It was especially in the context of terrorist attack of 11th Sept, 2001 on World Trade Centre and Pentagon of America.

8. Peaceful Nuclear Policy: It was declared by the former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee on 18th August 1999 with the declarations for arms control, non-invasion, responsibility with Prime Minister or his nominee for the use of nuclear power.

Article 51 of the Constitution declares to: 

1. promote international peace and security. 

2. maintain good and friendly relations among different countries. 

3. respect international laws and treaties. 

4. settle international disputes using proper ways.

Objectives of the foreign policy other than those given under Article 51 are. 

1. to promote national interests.

2. to organise other countries of the world for mutual economic and public welfare. 

3. to get technical and financial help from developed countries for economic development. 

4. to oppose colonialism, imperialism, racialism and casteism in every form. 

5. to develop India as a great effective power in the world. 

6. to cooperate with international organisations like United Nations and Nonaligned movement.

India opted for the policy of non¬alignment as a part of its foreign policy soon after independence because India needed financial as well as technical help for its development from the developed countries of both the blocs. It was also India’s aim to maintain peace in the world by judging the international events on the basis of merit and rationality rather than siding with either of the blocs and aggravating the situation. Policy of Non-alignment has relevance till today even after the disintegration of USSR and end of cold war in the context of reorganisation of UNO, just establishment of new international economic order and welfare and security of small countries.

The Cold War referred to competitions, tensions and series of confrontations between the US and USSR backed by their respective allies. In 1945, the Allied forces, led by the US, Soviet Union, Britain and France defeated the Axis powers led by Germany, Italy and Japan, ending the Second World War (1939-1945). Also in 1945, the Second World War ended, and the Cold War began when the US dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagashaki causing Japan to surrender. Both the powers became reluctant to initiate war to protect world from large scale destruction as they were aware that it will lead to total nuclear destruction.

(a) India’s Nuclear Policy 

1. India advocates no-first-use and reiterates India’s commitment to globally verifiable and non- discriminatory nuclear disarmament leading to a nuclear weapon-free world. 

2. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru always promoted science and technology to build a modern India, i.e., initiated nuclear programme in the late 1940s. 

3. India was against nuclear weapons, hence pleaded for nuclear disarmament with superpowers. 

4. India always considered NPT as discriminatory and refused to sign on it. 

5. Even India’s first Nuclear Test in May 1974 was termed as a peaceful explosion and India argued to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes only.

(b) Consensus in Foreign Policy Matters:

1. Pt. Nehru played a crucial role in the architecture of setting National Agenda for foreign policy. 

2. Both as a Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, he played profound influence in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign policy from 1946 to 1964. 

3. When different parties came to power from time to time, foreign policy of India played a limited role in party politics.

Non-aligned Movement was based on a recognition that decolonised states shared a historical affiliation and can become powerful force if they come together. It meant that very small and poor countries need not become followers of any big power, instead they could pursue an independent foreign policy also. It was based on a resolve to democratise the international system to redress existing inequities also.