GS2 · 15 marks · 250 words

India's timely response during the economic crises in Sri Lanka and the Maldives reflects its "Neighbourhood First" policy in action. Examine how Indian aid has impacted bilateral ties with these nations. What steps can further be taken to promote sustainable economic cooperation in the Indian Ocean region?

Answered by 11 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

NeighbourhoodBilateral RelationsTrade and Economic DiplomacySecurity and Strategic Affairs

Syllabus: India and its neighborhood- relations.

How toppers approached it

From all 11 answers · about 240 words · 64% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening82%
  • A quotation9%
  • A restatement9%

Body

  • Points73%
  • Points and prose27%

Close

  • No separate close36%
  • A way forward36%
  • A summary27%

The toppers’ answers

Zinnia AuroraAIR 6 · CSE 2025 · 187 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Neighbourhood First Policy intermingles India's vishwamitra ethos with its regional integration want, posturing it as a development behemoth.

Body · points

Diagram
* NFP * multilateral force * mutual respect * consensus driven policy * Gujral doctrine

Impact of Indian aid

Sri Lanka

  1. Building of resilient ties. post extension of Line of Credit
  2. First Responder despite embittered relations
  3. Positioned as 'trusted ally' with no reciprocity ↓ enhanced people to people connect.
  4. Integration of Track II and III diplomacy
  5. Port development projects @ Northern Sri Lanka.
  6. Counter to Chinese aid which was stopped.
  7. Presidential visit

Maldives

  1. Guard of Honour welom to PM Modi
  2. tourism as leverage of India
  3. strategic reinstallation @ Ekuturia and Indian Navy

Steps for sustainable economic cooperation

  1. Net Security provider → Littoral states align
Diagram
Sketch map of the Indian Ocean region showing the coastline of Africa and India and the Indian Ocean.

  1. Multilateral + plurilateral engagement → IORA

  2. Rising ASEAN-India relation → relook of AITGA

  3. Indo-Pacific centricity → QUAD leadership

  4. Impress of Small Island Developing states → Papua New Guinea

  5. Trade enhancement & India → BTAs with Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand

  6. Focus on East African ties → Recent visit of EAM

Close · a summary

India is slowly posturing itself as a development partner with various tools of foreign policy.

More on Neighbourhood

India's relations with the countries on its borders.

All GS2 questions on Neighbourhood