UPSC Prelims 2011 · Question 67 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2011 question on Look East Policy

With reference to “Look East Policy” of India, consider the following statements:

1. India wants to establish itself as an important regional player in the East Asian affairs.

2. India wants to plug the vacuum created by the termination of Cold War.

3. India wants to restore the historical and cultural ties with its neighbours in Southeast and East Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: B. 1 and 3 only

Verdict

Correct Answer: 1 and 3 only

Analysis

India’s Look East Policy was launched in 1991 under the P.V. Narasimha Rao government. It aimed to strengthen India’s economic, strategic and cultural engagement with East and Southeast Asia.

Statement by statement

1. India wants to establish itself as an important regional player in East Asian affairs — Correct

This was a major objective of the Look East Policy.

India wanted to deepen its engagement with ASEAN and East Asian institutions and become an important regional actor in economic and strategic affairs.

2. India wants to plug the vacuum created by the termination of Cold War — Incorrect

The end of the Cold War influenced India’s foreign policy, but Look East was not meant to replace any superpower or fill a global vacuum.

It was mainly driven by economic liberalisation, search for new markets and stronger regional engagement.

3. India wants to restore historical and cultural ties with its neighbours — Correct

India has old cultural links with Southeast Asia through Buddhism, Hindu traditions, maritime trade and historical contacts.

Look East Policy used these civilisational links as soft power to strengthen relations with neighbouring regions.

Extra UPSC info

* Look East Policy was launched in 1991 during India’s economic liberalisation.

* Its initial focus was economic engagement with ASEAN.

* Later, it expanded to strategic and security cooperation with East Asian countries.

* In 2014, it was upgraded into the Act East Policy.

* Act East Policy gives greater focus to connectivity, security, Indo-Pacific cooperation and India’s North-East.

* Important projects include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project.

How to crack it

Look East Policy aimed to make India an important regional player in East Asia and revive historical-cultural ties, but it was not meant to plug a Cold War vacuum.

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