Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)
International Relations
- PYQs4
- Articles1
Background
FOIP is central to India's foreign policy and strategic outlook in the maritime domain, its engagement with the Quad, and its approach to regional security and economic partnerships. It directly impacts India's strategic interests and role in the evolving global order.
The Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) is a strategic concept advocating for a region that is free from coercion, respects international law, and promotes open trade, connectivity, and maritime security. It emphasizes the importance of a rules-based order and inclusive cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
Facts & tables
- Origin and Proponents
- Originally articulated by Japan, it has been adopted and promoted by other nations including the US, India, and Australia (Quad members).
- Core Principles
- Emphasizes freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, adherence to international law, and open trade.
- Objectives
- Aims to promote connectivity, infrastructure development, economic integration, and a rules-based regional order.
- Geopolitical Context
- Often viewed as a strategy to counter unilateral actions and ensure stability amidst China's growing influence in the region.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) | Supports |
| ASEAN | Engages with |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Strategic vision for a rules-based, inclusive, and secure Indo-Pacific.
- Key principles: freedom of navigation, international law, open trade, peaceful dispute resolution.
- Promoted by Japan, US, India, Australia (Quad members).
- Aims to counter unilateral actions and promote regional stability and prosperity.
- Focus on connectivity, infrastructure development, and maritime security.
Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Two together: on the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to India
FOIP is a strategic vision for a rules-based, inclusive, and secure Indo-Pacific, promoting freedom of navigation, economic connectivity, and peaceful resolution of disputes, with India playing a crucial role in its implementation.
See also
Past papers
2023–2026 · 3 questions
In the news
Two together: on the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to India
FOIP is a strategic vision for a rules-based, inclusive, and secure Indo-Pacific, promoting freedom of navigation, economic connectivity, and peaceful resolution of disputes, with India playing a crucial role in its implementation.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are **not** correct in terms of outcomes of this visit ?
1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg
2. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation
3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific
4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: During the visit, an MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine between Gujarat Ayurveda University and German institutions. (An earlier MoU in late 2025 was agreed upon between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, not the University of Hamburg). Statement 2 is Correct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Youth Hockey Development was officially signed between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation. Statement 3 is Correct: The two nations announced the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, alongside a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Following the Chancellor's focus on Gujarat, Germany announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad to foster closer cooperation in the western region, rather than in Lucknow. Since the question asks for the statements that are not correct, statements 1 and 4 fit the criteria. Therefore, the correct option is B.
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :
| List I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment) | List II (Location) |
|---|---|
| A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory | 1. NOIDA |
| B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre | 2. Bengaluru |
| C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate | 3. Colombo |
| D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility | 4. Thimphu |
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has established several specialized centres to foster regional cooperation. The correct matching of these centres with their locations is as follows: * BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO): Located in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its establishment was signed during the Third BIMSTEC Summit in 2014 to promote cultural cooperation and preserve heritage.
* BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC): Located in Bengaluru, India. Housed at the Central Power Research Institute, it coordinates regional energy cooperation, capacity building, and acts as the Secretariat for the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Coordination Committee.
* BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC): Located in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is hosted at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) to enhance regional cooperation in weather prediction, climate modeling, and disaster preparedness.
* BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF): Located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Memorandum of Association (MoA) for its establishment was signed during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit in 2022 to facilitate technology sharing, innovation, and capacity building among member states. Therefore, the correct matching is A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3, which corresponds to the correct option.