The geopolitics of South Asia attracts both China and India. South Asia has been a region in which, for many years, India and China have tried to achieve political and economic influence. India’s forefront policy to deal with its neighbours since independence has been its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Even if there have been inconsistency and different approaches adopted by the Indian leadership to implement this policy in the region, India has always aimed to avoid major geopolitical changes in South Asia. However, the post-Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) engagement of China has challenged India’s position in the region. This article investigates India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and evaluates its relevance with that of the BRI.

No abstract

The ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ is the anchor point of India’s general foreign policy since independence in 1947. Subsequently, the Neighbourhood First Policy has evolved, was debilitated, and has been reformed under the various prime ministers of India. Based on preferences and perceptions about the South Asian neighbourhood, the Neighbourhood First Policy has been implemented differently. This article aims to analyse the Neighbourhood First Policy of India under four different prime ministers (Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Inder Kumar Gujral, and Narendra Modi). The article investigates the pretexts behind each premier’s way of handling the Neighbourhood First Policy followed by an empirical analysis.

No abstract

No abstract