(a) What are the external determinants of the Foreign Policy of a State ? 20 (b) Discuss the significance of "West Asia Quad" in…

(a) What are the external determinants of the Foreign Policy of a State ? 20 (b) Discuss the significance of "West Asia Quad" in the light of India's 'Look West' policy. 15 (c) Discuss the major drivers of India's interests in Africa. 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) किसी राज्य की विदेश नीति के बाह्य निर्धारक-तत्व क्या हैं ? 20 (b) भारत की 'लुक वेस्ट' नीति के आलोक में "पश्चिम एशिया क्वाड" के महत्व पर चर्चा कीजिए । 15 (c) अफ्रीका में भारत के हितों के प्रमुख कारकों की विवेचना कीजिए । 15

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. 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 'discuss' requires a balanced, analytical treatment across all three sub-parts. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, three distinct sections clearly labelled (a), (b), (c), and a unified conclusion that synthesizes India's evolving geopolitical positioning across West Asia and Africa.

Key points expected

Part (a): External determinants including systemic factors (polarity, international law, globalization), regional factors (neighborhood stability, regional organizations), and bilateral factors (great power relations, alliance structures)
Part (a): Distinction between external and internal determinants with clear theoretical grounding (realism, liberal institutionalism)
Part (b): Genesis of West Asia Quad (India-Israel-UAE-USA) and its institutional evolution from I2U2
Part (b): Alignment with 'Look West' policy—energy security, diaspora protection, counter-terrorism cooperation, and economic corridors like IMEEC
Part (c): Economic drivers—trade, investment, energy resources, and critical minerals; strategic drivers—UNSC reform support, countering China, maritime security in IOR
Part (c): Soft power and diaspora linkages; development partnership through IAFS, LoC diplomacy, and capacity building

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	10	For (a), distinguishes 'discuss' from 'enumerate' by analyzing interconnections between determinants; for (b) and (c), moves beyond description to assess significance and drivers with evaluative depth across all sub-parts	Addresses all three parts but treats (a) as list-heavy and (b)-(c) as purely descriptive without analytical progression	Misreads directive—either over-theorizes (a) without application or reduces (b)-(c) to factual narration without significance assessment
Content depth & accuracy	20%	10	For (a), cites specific theorists (Morgenthau, Waltz, Rosenau); for (b), accurately dates I2U2 formation (2022) and links to Abraham Accords; for (c), names specific initiatives like Asia-Africa Growth Corridor and IAFS-IV outcomes	Covers all three parts with generally accurate content but lacks specificity—vague on I2U2 timeline, generic on Africa initiatives, thin on theoretical grounding for (a)	Factual errors—confuses West Asia Quad with Quad proper, misidentifies determinants as purely domestic, or conflates Africa policy with Nehru-era Non-Alignment without evolution
Structure & flow	20%	10	Clear tripartite division with proportional length; smooth transitions between theoretical (a) and empirical (b)-(c) sections; integrated conclusion showing how external determinants theory explains India's West Asia/Africa pivot	All three parts present but unevenly developed—(a) overstretched or (b)-(c) compressed; abrupt shifts between sections without bridging logic	Disorganized—parts unlabelled or merged haphazardly; no conclusion or purely repetitive summary; significant imbalance (e.g., 60% on (a), 20% each on others)
Examples / case-law / data	20%	10	For (a): Cold War bipolarity vs. post-Cold War unipolarity/multipolarity contrast; for (b): specific projects—UAE's investment in Indian infrastructure, India-Israel defense cooperation, Red Sea tensions 2024; for (c): bilateral trade figures, LoC amounts, specific African countries (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa)	Some examples present but scattered—mentions I2U2 without specifics, Africa without country names, determinants without historical illustrations	Virtually example-free; or irrelevant examples (using SAARC for West Asia, Latin America for Africa); no quantitative data where expected
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	10	Synthesizes all three parts to argue how India's West Asia and Africa engagements demonstrate adaptive external determinant management—balancing autonomy with alignment; critically assesses limitations (West Asia Quad's nascent nature, Africa's debt concerns) and future trajectory	Separate conclusions for each part or generic summary; no synthesis across the three components; misses critical assessment of challenges	No conclusion or purely repetitive; no analytical edge—fails to connect (a)'s theory to (b)-(c)'s practice; ignores counter-arguments or limitations

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