India's Foreign Policy in West Asia
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This concept is crucial for understanding India's energy security, economic stability, diaspora welfare, and its role as a rising global power navigating a volatile and strategically important region.
India's foreign policy in West Asia is a complex balancing act driven by energy security, economic interests (trade, remittances), and strategic considerations. It involves navigating historical ties with countries like Iran, deepening partnerships with Israel and Arab Gulf states, and responding to regional geopolitical shifts while upholding its strategic autonomy.
Facts & tables
- Energy Security
- India's significant oil imports pass through vulnerable routes like the Strait of Hormuz, making regional stability crucial.
- Economic Ties
- Millions of Indian workers in Gulf states send substantial remittances, and trade relations are vital, with potential impacts on agreements like the India-EU FTA.
- Strategic Balancing
- India seeks to maintain good relations with diverse actors including Israel, Iran, and Arab Gulf states amidst regional conflicts and shifting alliances.
- Impact of Conflicts
- Regional instability, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict or US-Iran confrontation, directly impacts India's economic interests and global standing.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Formulates and implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
- Balancing act between Israel, Iran, and Arab states.
- Energy security and vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Economic interests: remittances, trade, and potential EU FTA implications.
- Strategic autonomy amidst US-China rivalry in the region.
- Impact of Israel-Palestine conflict on India's global image and 'Global South' leadership.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2014 | Factual recall |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Factual recall
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
-
Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
India’s ‘Israel habit’ meets West Asian realities
India's West Asia policy balances energy needs, economic ties, and strategic autonomy amidst regional conflicts and evolving power dynamics.
See also
Past papers
2014–2024 · 8 questions
In the news
India’s ‘Israel habit’ meets West Asian realities
India's West Asia policy balances energy needs, economic ties, and strategic autonomy amidst regional conflicts and evolving power dynamics.
Try these PYQs
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 the correct answer using the code given below.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): India is not a member of APEC. Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN): India is not a member of ASEAN, but it is a part of ASEAN6. East Asia Summit: India is a member of the East Asia Summit. Therefore, out of the given options, India is only a member of the East Asia Summit.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from
* The Arab Spring uprisings originally started in Tunisia. * In December 2010, a young Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest of police harassment. This act of desperation sparked widespread demonstrations throughout Tunisia, demanding an end to corruption, unemployment, and political repression. * The success of the Tunisian revolution, which eventually led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, inspired similar protests across the Arab world, becoming known as the Arab Spring.
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.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.
Show 3 more PYQs
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?
* India signed the ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia. * India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. * The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel cycle management, nuclear power projects, and research in nuclear science and technology. * Russia has been a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom, which has been involved in building Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. * Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also engaged in nuclear cooperation with India but were not part of this specific agreement.
Consider the following countries
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?
The Organization of Turkic States, formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an international organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries - Azerbaijan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan - Turkey
- Uzbekistan
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.