UPSC Prelims 2011 Q42: Current Affairs – International Relations & Treaties
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?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
India's "Look East Policy": checking the three statements
India's Look East Policy, launched in the early 1990s, aimed to re-engage with East and Southeast Asia.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Establish itself as an important regional player in East Asian affairs | Correct | A core aim was greater regional engagement and influence in East Asia |
| 2. Plug the vacuum created by the end of the Cold War | Incorrect | This framing is not standard; the policy is usually linked to post-1991 economic liberalization and strategic re-orientation, not filling a Cold War 'vacuum' per se |
| 3. Restore historical/cultural ties with Southeast and East Asian neighbours | Correct | Reviving old civilizational and trade links was an explicit goal of the policy |
Look East Policy essentials:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | Early 1990s, post-liberalization |
| Core aims | Regional engagement + historical/cultural ties |
| Later evolved into | Act East Policy (2014) |
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 3 (restoring historical/cultural ties) is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) CORRECT. Statements 1 and 3 — regional player ambition and reviving historical ties — are the documented goals; statement 2's Cold War framing is not.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 (regional player role) is also correct, so omitting it is wrong.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2's claim about filling a Cold War vacuum is not a standard stated objective of the policy.
Key point
Look East Policy: aimed at (1) regional influence in East Asia and (3) restoring historical/cultural ties with Southeast/East Asia — NOT framed as filling a Cold War vacuum.
Remember
Look East Policy: regional player in East Asia + restoring historical/cultural ties (not a Cold War vacuum narrative).
Common mistakes
- Over-attributing the policy's origin to Cold War geopolitics rather than post-1991 liberalization.
- Missing the policy's explicit civilizational/cultural revival angle.
- Not distinguishing Look East from its later upgrade, Act East.
Exam tip
Look East Policy = regional engagement + reviving old ties, born from 1990s liberalization, not a Cold War 'vacuum'.
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India — Annual Report 2010–11 (India and ASEAN: Look East Policy)
- C. Raja Mohan — Crossing the Rubicon: The Shaping of India's New Foreign Policy (Penguin Viking, 2003)