India's Foreign Policy is a national concept and a set of guiding principles that dictate how the Republic of India engages with other nations, international organizations, and global issues, with the primary objective of protecting its national interests, including territorial integrity and economic growth. Its origin is rooted in India's post-independence experience, with the foundational principles being articulated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a radio broadcast on September 7, 1946, and formally established after independence in 1947. The policy was created to solve the problem of maintaining national autonomy and promoting development in a world divided by the Cold War, which coincided with India's independence.
The mechanism of the policy is constitutionally anchored in Article 51 of the Constitution of India, a Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP) in Part IV, which directs the State to endeavor to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and encourage the settlement of international disputes by arbitration. Historically, the policy worked through the principles of Non-Alignment (NAM), founded in 1961, which meant not joining any major power bloc, and the Panchsheel (Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence), signed on April 29, 1954, which includes mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
The policy connects directly to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which is responsible for its execution, and to other constitutional provisions like Article 253, which enables Parliament to make laws for implementing international treaties. Recently, the policy has undergone a significant shift, moving from the traditional Non-Alignment doctrine to a more pragmatic strategy of Strategic Autonomy and Multi-Alignment. This change, particularly since the 1990s and accelerating under the Modi government since 2014, means India now engages simultaneously with multiple power blocs, such as the US, Russia, and China, to pursue its interests, a flexible approach described as "bridge not blocks". While the core constitutional commitment to peace and international law in Article 51 remains the same, the operational doctrine has evolved to prioritize a stronger global role, economic diplomacy, and strategic partnerships like the Quad.