India’s Foreign Policy Evolution in the Post-Liberalisation Era

Abstract

The 1991 liberalisation of India’s economy triggered not only a domestic structural transformation but also a reorientation of its foreign policy. This paper examines how India’s external engagements evolved in the three decades following the reforms, analyzing changes in orientation, priorities, and strategies. It argues that India shifted from an ideologically framed non-alignment approach toward pragmatic, interest-driven diplomacy marked by economic imperatives, multi-alignment, and an Indo-Pacific orientation. The paper expands on literature, policy documents, and case studies of India’s Look East/Act East initiative, relations with major powers, multilateral activism, and neighbourhood policy. While liberalisation enabled a more assertive and outward-looking India, the trajectory has been uneven, constrained by domestic politics, capacity limits, and geopolitical volatility. The conclusion reflects on whether these changes represent transformation, adaptation, or continuity.