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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India's Act East Policy

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Crucial for India's strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific, economic integration, regional stability, counterbalancing China's influence, and enhancing multilateral diplomacy.

ASEAN is a geopolitical and economic union of ten member states in Southeast Asia, promoting intergovernmental cooperation and facilitating economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration. India's Act East Policy, a successor to the Look East Policy, aims to strengthen economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN at its core.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Formation

Established in 1967 with the Bangkok Declaration.

Members

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

India's Status

Dialogue Partner since 1992, Summit-level partner since 2002, Comprehensive Strategic Partner since 2022.

Cooperation Areas

Trade, investment, connectivity, maritime security, digital economy, green technology, cultural exchange.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaGeopolitics & International Conflicts

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
ASEANRegional grouping
Ministry of External Affairs (India)Implements
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

  • ASEAN: 10 SE Asian nations, formed 1967.
  • India's Act East Policy: Core focus on ASEAN.
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2022.
  • Cooperation in trade, connectivity, maritime security, digital.
  • Aims for regional stability and economic integration.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries ? 1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Tran...

International RelationsOpen question
2024Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II ...

GeographyOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Techn...

International RelationsOpen question
2019Factual recall, Policy measures

Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the follow...

International RelationsOpen question
2018Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ...

International RelationsOpen question
2017Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indi...

International RelationsOpen question
2015Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

International RelationsOpen question
2015Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

International RelationsOpen question

Topic timeline

Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Prelims 2015· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

Open question

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

Open question
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

Open question

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

Open question
Prelims 2017· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indi...

Open question
Prelims 2018· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Factual recall, Policy measures

Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the follow...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Techn...

Open question
Prelims 2024· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II ...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries ? 1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Tran...

Open question

World is ‘extremely turbulent’, Jaishankar calls for deeper India-ASEAN cooperation

22 Jul 2026 · ASEAN is a key regional bloc for India's Act East Policy, fostering comprehensive strategic partnership across economic, security, and socio-cultural domains to navigate global turbulence and ensure regional stability.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India's Act East Policy

Often confused with

Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)

Open notesOften confused with

Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Choke Points

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India's Act East Policy in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India's Act East Policy

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

2015·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ...

2018·International Relations
Solve

Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries ? 1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Tran...

2026·International Relations
Solve

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

2015·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Techn...

2023·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indi...

2017·International Relations
Solve

Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the follow...

2019·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II ...

2024·Geography
Solve

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