Basic tenets of India's foreign policy:
1. Non-alignment:
(a) The main characteristic feature of India's Foreign Policy is the policy of Nonalignment. In fact, India was the first country who initiated the policy of non-alignment which was adopted by most of the countries of Asia and Africa. Pt. Nehru, said as-far-as possible, we don't want to associate with any of the power blocs. India signed an important treaty with Russia in 1971 to make its relations all the more friendly. For this agreement, the critics started condemning India's Foreign Policy.
(b) Non-alignment doesn't mean that India cannot have friendly relations with other countries. The Janata Government after assuming office in 1977 stressed the policy of non-alignment which is still the list policy for India and in recognition of this fact there is no intention in official or non-official circles to deviate from it.
2. Friendly Relations with Other Countries: To maintain friendly relations with all the countries of the world, especially the neighbouring countries is another basic principle of India's Foreign Policy. Due to this policy only, India is having very good and friendly relations with almost all the countries of the world and even with the super powers. India has friendly relations with all its neighbours.
3. Opposition to the Policy of Race and Colour Discrimination: Another basic principle of India's Foreign Policy is that it has always raised its voice against the policy of caste and colour discrimination. India has always favoured the abolition of the caste system and it has tried to remove caste-ridden policies from the world also. India has consistently raised the question of the treatment of the people of Indian origin in the Union of South Africa and severely condemned the policy 01 racial segregation followed by the Government of South Africa.
4. Opposition to imperialism and Colonialism: Since India itself remained a victim of British imperialism, it has always opposed imperialism and colonialism. India regards imperialism to be injurious to world peace as it leads to war. So, Indian leaders by visiting other countries and delivering speeches in the U.N. have tried to liberate the slave countries from the clutches of the imperialistic powers. Whenever imperialism tried to dominate, India strongly opposed it. When Holland, after the Second World War, tried to power Indonesia, India protested against
(5) Faith in the Principles Panchsheel: Panchsheel means five principles. It is the fundamental basis of India's foreign policy. The word "Panchsheel" was first used on 29th April, 1954, by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. These are the principles, which if practiced would result in the establishment of world-peace and tranquillity. These principles are as follows:
(i) The nations should respect each other's territorial unity and sovereignty.
(ii) No nation should attack another nation.
(iii) No nation should interfere in the internal affairs of another nation.
(iv) All the countries of the world should be considered equal irrespective of all distinctions.
(v) All the countries should live peacefully
6. Faith in U.N.O.: India is one of the founder members of the U.N.O. and has full faith in its role. It stands for giving full cooperation to this organisation in its efforts for settling disputes among nations by peaceful means and establishing friendly relations among them.
7. Disarmament: Disarmament means that the production of deadly war weapons should not be stopped but those countries who are having stockpiles of these should destroy them. India strongly supports disarmament and is opposed to the production of such weapons. U.S.A. and Russia and many other countries of the world are manufacturing atom-bombs, hydrogen bonds and other destructive weapons of war. This mad race for inventing deadly war weapons can lead to the Third World War which might destroy the whole mankind since the defence of the nation is of paramount importance and no country can close its eyes to neighbours getting their deadly weapons, by whatever India has been forced to divert means, its funds to produce deterrents, though it is pledged to no-first-use of the same.
8. Promotion of World Peace: Promotion of world peace is one of the main aims of our foreign policy. India believes that all international disputes should be settled by peaceful means through negotiations and not by force.
