India's Indo-Pacific Strategy
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Central to India's contemporary foreign policy, national security, and economic interests, reflecting its role as a rising power and its engagement with major global players in a critical geopolitical theatre.
India's Indo-Pacific Strategy is a foreign policy framework aimed at ensuring a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing connectivity, security, and economic cooperation with regional partners.
Facts & tables
- Core Principles
- Free, open, inclusive, rules-based order
- Key Pillars
- Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), Act East Policy, Quad
- Objectives
- Maritime security, connectivity, disaster management, economic integration
- Strategic Importance
- Counterbalancing geopolitical shifts, protecting sea lanes of communication
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Indian Navy | Implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
- Aims for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
- Encompasses security, economic, and connectivity dimensions.
- Key components include SAGAR doctrine and Act East Policy.
- Involves partnerships with countries like Vietnam and groupings like Quad.
- Crucial for India's strategic autonomy and regional influence.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2024 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2024
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Indian Navy warships INS Udaygiri, INS Kavaratti in Vietnam to boost maritime cooperation
India's Indo-Pacific Strategy promotes a free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, integrating security, economic, and connectivity initiatives like SAGAR and Act East Policy.
See also
Past papers
2015–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Indian Navy warships INS Udaygiri, INS Kavaratti in Vietnam to boost maritime cooperation
India's Indo-Pacific Strategy promotes a free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, integrating security, economic, and connectivity initiatives like SAGAR and Act East Policy.
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.
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.
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.
Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries ?
1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
2. IMT Trilateral Highway
3. Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Correct: The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project connects the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with the Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea, and then links Sittwe to Mizoram in India via river and road. Since Myanmar is an ASEAN member, this project is a key component of India's connectivity with the ASEAN region under its Act East Policy. Statement 2 is Correct: The India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in India with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Both Myanmar and Thailand are ASEAN members, making this highway a flagship project for India-ASEAN physical connectivity. Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line is an international railway project connecting Agartala in Tripura, India, with Akhaura in Bangladesh. Since Bangladesh is not a member of ASEAN (it is a member of SAARC and BIMSTEC), this project falls under India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation, not India-ASEAN cooperation. Therefore, the correct option is A.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
Show 3 more PYQs
The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, stretching approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), including the border shared with Alaska. It is a peaceful boundary and includes both land and water segments. Chile and Argentina: * Length: Approx. 5,308 kilometres * This is the third-longest international border in the world and the longest in South America. * It follows the Andes mountain range for most of its length, with several high-altitude border crossings. China and India: * Length: Approx. 3,488 kilometers
* It is highly disputed in areas such as Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to occasional tensions between the two nations. Kazakhstan and Russian Federation: * Length: Approx. 7,644 kilometers * This is the second-longest international border in the world. * It is largely flat, passing through vast steppes, and is a vital region for trade and natural resources between the two countries.
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 Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural IONS was held in February 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Indian Navy served as the Chair for the first two years (2008-2010). Statement 2 is correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative that aims to promote maritime cooperation among the navies of countries bordering the Indian Ocean. It provides a platform for discussions on regional maritime security issues and fosters friendly relationships between participating nations.
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.