Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Explain the major features of India's Foreign Policy in the 21st…

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Explain the major features of India's Foreign Policy in the 21st century. 10 (b) What are the reasons for lack of 'regionness' in South Asia ? 10 (c) Why is the compromise reached at WTO regarding the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing not a Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver ? 10 (d) Why do ethnic conflicts and insurgencies continue to remain major impediments to regional co-operation in South Asia ? 10 (e) What diplomatic steps has India taken to articulate the interests of the Global South in International Politics ? 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित प्रत्येक प्रश्न का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए : (a) 21वीं सदी में भारत की विदेश नीति की प्रमुख विशेषताओं की व्याख्या कीजिए । 10 (b) दक्षिण एशिया में 'क्षेत्रीयता' की कमी के क्या कारण हैं ? 10 (c) कोविड-19 वैक्सीन के निर्माण को लेकर डब्ल्यू.टी.ओ. में हुआ समझौता व्यापार संबंधी बौद्धिक संपदा अधिकार (टी.आर.आई.पी.एस.) में छूट क्यों नहीं है ? 10 (d) दक्षिण एशिया में जातिगत संघर्ष और विद्रोह क्षेत्रीय सहयोग में प्रमुख बाधाएँ क्यों बने हुए हैं ? 10 (e) अंतर्राष्ट्रीय राजनीति में वैश्विक दक्षिण के हितों की रक्षा करने के लिए भारत ने कौन-से कूटनीतिक कदम उठाए हैं ? 10

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Directive word: Explain

This question asks you to explain. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'explain' requires causal reasoning and elaboration of concepts across all five sub-parts. Allocate approximately 30 words (20% time) per sub-part given equal 10-mark weighting, with a brief 1-line introduction and no separate conclusion needed for this short-answer format. Structure each part as: (a) multi-alignment, strategic autonomy, Act East; (b) India-Pakistan rivalry, asymmetric power, weak institutions; (c) June 2022 decision vs. full waiver; (d) cross-border terrorism, refugee flows, trust deficit; (e) G20 presidency, Voice of Global South Summit, IBSA, development partnerships.

Key points expected

(a) India's 21st century foreign policy: strategic autonomy, multi-alignment (QUAD+BRICS+SCO), Act East Policy, Neighbourhood First, economic diplomacy, climate commitments, diaspora engagement
(b) Lack of 'regionness' in South Asia: India-Pakistan structural rivalry, power asymmetry, weak SAARC institutionalization, extra-regional interference (China), territorial disputes, low intra-regional trade (~5% of total trade)
(c) WTO June 2022 compromise: TRIPS Council decision allows compulsory licensing flexibilities for 5 years vs. India-South Africa proposed full TRIPS waiver; limited to vaccines not therapeutics/diagnostics; procedural not substantive amendment
(d) Ethnic conflicts as impediments: cross-border insurgencies (Northeast India-Naga/Karen links), Tamil issue (India-Sri Lanka), Rohingya crisis (Myanmar-Bangladesh-India), refugee burden, security dilemma preventing economic cooperation
(e) Global South articulation: Voice of Global South Summit (January 2023), G20 presidency priorities (SDG localization, debt relief), IBSA Fund, India-UN Development Partnership Fund, vaccine diplomacy (COVISHIELD supplies), climate justice advocacy (CBDR-RC)

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	10	Correctly interprets 'explain' as requiring causal mechanisms and elaboration rather than mere description; for (a) shows evolution from non-alignment to multi-alignment; for (b) applies 'regionness' concept (Hettne) correctly; for (c) distinguishes between procedural compromise and substantive waiver; for (d) links ethnic conflicts to security externalities; for (e) distinguishes Global South from Non-Aligned Movement	Addresses all sub-parts but treats 'explain' descriptively; conflates (c) waiver and compromise; uses 'regionness' loosely without conceptual anchoring; lists features without causal logic	Misidentifies directives (treats 'why' in (b)(d) as 'what'); ignores 'explain' requirement entirely; answers only 3-4 sub-parts; confuses TRIPS with TRIMS or GATT
Content depth & accuracy	20%	10	Demonstrates command of 21st century shifts: for (a) cites Modi-era initiatives (SAGAR, Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative); for (b) references SAARC suspension post-Uri (2016); for (c) specifies June 2022 General Council decision timeline; for (d) names specific groups (ULFA, NSCN, LTTE legacy); for (e) cites 125+ Global South countries in January 2023 summit	Covers all sub-parts with generic content; mentions QUAD and BRICS for (a) without noting simultaneity; cites 'India-Pakistan problems' for (b) without specificity; vague on WTO mechanisms for (c); general 'terrorism' references for (d)	Factually erroneous: claims India abandoned non-alignment completely; states SAARC is thriving; confuses TRIPS with patent expiry; attributes Global South leadership to China; anachronistic content (Cold War framing for 21st century)
Structure & flow	20%	10	Clear five-part labeling (a)-(e); each sub-part has internal coherence with 2-3 linked sentences; maintains 150-word discipline per part; smooth transitions between thematic clusters (bilateral-regional-global); parallel structure aids comparative reading	Labels present but uneven development—some parts 20 words, others 50; bullet points without integration; readable but mechanical listing; occasional paragraph breaks mid-argument	Unlabeled or mislabeled parts; single block paragraph for all 50 marks; severe imbalance (one part 80 words, another 10); illegible handwriting or formatting; no discernible organization within sub-parts
Examples / case-law / data	20%	10	Rich empirical grounding: for (a) Indo-US nuclear deal (2008), Doklam (2017), Galwan (2020) as inflection points; for (b) SAARC GDP intra-trade 5% vs ASEAN 25%; for (c) paragraphs 5-7 of 2001 Doha Declaration; for (d) Chakma refugee crisis, Rohingya 2017 exodus figures; for (e) $3.75 billion Lines of Credit in Africa, COVID vaccine supply to 95 countries	Some examples but imprecise: 'trade is low' without figures; 'vaccine diplomacy' without COVAX/ bilateral distinction; 'many summits' without naming Voice of Global South; generic 'terrorism affects trade'	No examples or factually wrong ones: cites WTO creation 1995 for (c) as relevant; invents 'SAARC Free Trade Agreement 2015'; confuses Global South with Third World summits of 1970s; no contemporary references post-2010
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	10	Each sub-part ends with analytical closure: for (a) tension between autonomy and alliance; for (b) 'regionness' requires mutual recognition absent in South Asia; for (c) compromise reflects Northern pharmaceutical power, not development justice; for (d) ethnic conflicts instrumentalized by states preventing regionalism; for (e) India's Global South claim contested by China's alternative institutionalization (BRI, AIIB)	Summative statements without synthesis: 'thus India has balanced policy'; 'so SAARC has problems'; 'therefore vaccines are important'; restates points without advancing argument	No closure—ends mid-point; contradictory conclusions across sub-parts (India as regional hegemon vs. equal partner); purely normative endings ('peace is needed'); missing conclusions for 2+ sub-parts

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