Prelims 2011 · archive
MediumWith 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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Option (b) is correct: statements 1 and 3 are aims of the Look East Policy, but statement 2 is not. The policy sought closer engagement with India's neighbours in Southeast and East Asia, a bigger role in the region, and revival of very old cultural links. The upheaval after the Cold War was the setting in which it was launched, not an aim to 'plug a vacuum'.
- ✓ 1. The policy's objective was to pursue relations with India's neighbours and near neighbours in Asia with greater intensity. Through it India became a full ASEAN dialogue partner, joined the ASEAN Regional Forum and later held summits with ASEAN. Within about a decade India caught up with the other big powers that wanted a stake in ASEAN.
- ✗ 2. The policy was launched in 1991–92 against a backdrop of momentous strategic and economic changes and challenges, which followed the end of the Cold War. Its stated objective was more intense relations with Asian neighbours. Filling a post-Cold War vacuum was not part of it.
- ✓ 3. India has very strong cultural links with Southeast Asia going back to antiquity. Reconnecting with this shared heritage is part of what India's eastward engagement draws on.
Remember · Look East (launched 1991–92 under Narasimha Rao) means closer strategic and economic engagement with ASEAN and East Asia, built on ancient cultural ties. The end of the Cold War was the backdrop, not the aim.
Sources
- MEA Distinguished Lecture: India's Look East Policy (Amb Aloke Sen, 4 Nov 2011) ↗ “the objective was to look ‘east’, that is, to pursue relations with India’s neighbours and near neighbours in Asia with greater intensity, against a backdrop of momentous strategic and economic changes and challenges”
- MEA Distinguished Lecture: India's Look East Policy and the Northeast (Amb Dilip Sinha, 25 Apr 2016) ↗ “India has very strong cultural links with South East Asia, going back to antiquity. … Thus, in a short span of a decade, India was able to catch up with the other big powers which wanted to have a stake in this large and dynamic association.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2011, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·