18 Questions
What were the three major objectives of Nehru's foreign policy?
To preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development
What was the strategy adopted by Nehru to achieve his foreign policy objectives?
Non-alignment
Which party wanted India to follow a pro-US foreign policy?
Bharatiya Jan Sangh and the Swatantra Party
What was the policy emphasized by India's development strategy during Nehru's era?
Import-substitution
What was the reason for the unease in Indo-US relations during the 1950s?
India's growing partnership with the Soviet Union
What was the main reason for India not joining either of the two camps during the Cold War era?
To maintain a distance from the military alliances led by the US and the USSR
Who was Nehru's counterpart in correspondence regarding foreign policy?
K.P.S. Menon
What was the focus of India's foreign policy during Nehru's era?
Advocating for a peaceful world and reducing Cold War tensions
What was the significance of India's non-alignment policy during the Cold War era?
It enabled India to maintain its independence in foreign policy decisions
What was the global context in which India gained independence?
The beginning of the Cold War era
What was the impact of the Cold War era on India's foreign policy?
It influenced India's decision to pursue a non-alignment policy
What was the focus of India's contribution to the United Nations during Nehru's era?
Participating in peacekeeping operations
What was the global context in which India gained independence?
A world recovering from a devastating war and grappling with issues of reconstruction
Which of the following was NOT a concern for India immediately after Independence?
Securing a permanent seat in the UN Security Council
What is enshrined in Article 51 of the Indian Constitution?
Directive Principles of State Policy on 'Promotion of international peace and security'
What was Jawaharlal Nehru participating in as an independent nation-state?
World affairs
What was one of the pressures created by Partition?
Border disputes with Pakistan
When did Jawaharlal Nehru participate in a debate in the Constituent Assembly?
March 1949
Study Notes
India's Foreign Policy
- India's foreign policy was influenced by its struggle for freedom and the ideals of non-violence, democracy, and socialism.
- The country gained independence in 1947, coinciding with the start of the Cold War era, marked by political, economic, and military confrontation between the US and USSR.
International Context
- The post-Independence era saw the establishment of the UN, creation of nuclear weapons, emergence of Communist China, and decolonization.
- India had to navigate its national interests within this complex international context.
Nehru's Role
- Jawaharlal Nehru played a crucial role in shaping India's foreign policy as the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister from 1946 to 1964.
- He pursued a policy of non-alignment, reducing Cold War tensions and contributing to UN peacekeeping operations.
- Nehru's three major objectives were to preserve sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development.
Non-Alignment Policy
- India chose not to join either of the two camps during the Cold War era, maintaining its independence.
- Nehru believed that foreign relations should not be controlled by external forces, and India should maintain its sovereignty.
Challenges
- India faced challenges such as poverty alleviation, reconstruction after World War II, and the British legacy of international disputes.
- Partition created its own pressures, and the country had to navigate its way through the international arena as a new nation-state.
Test your knowledge about the foreign policy of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Learn about the key objectives and goals of his policy from 1946 to 1964. Understand how he shaped India's national agenda and foreign relations.
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