(a)  Critically examine the continuity and change in India’s Palestine policy in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. 20Marks

Evolution of India’s Palestine policy

From 1947 to 1992:

• India opposed the 1947 UN partition plan of Palestine and voted against creating Israel.
• Prime Minister Nehru compared Zionist settlers to the Muslim League in undivided India.
• In 1950, India recognized Israel but didn’t establish full diplomatic relations.
• Throughout the Cold War, India was a strong advocate for Palestine, supporting a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

From 1992 to October 7, 2023:

• India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992.
• Despite growing ties with Israel, India continued supporting a two-state solution and a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
• India’s policy included backing international initiatives like the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road map.

Post October 7, 2023:

• After the October 7 Hamas attack, India’s stance appeared to shift, showing solidarity with Israel.
• However, India’s voting at the UN still supported Palestinian rights and opposed Israeli settlements.
• India balanced its historical support for Palestine with its strategic partnership with Israel.

Supporting Palestine is important for India, because

• Moral and Historical Commitment:India’s historical stance against the partition of Palestine and support for a Palestinian state reflects its commitment to anti-colonial and anti-imperial principles.
• Humanitarian Concerns: The conflict in Gaza, resulting in over 30,000 deaths and displacing nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, represents a major humanitarian crisis. India’s support for Palestine reflects its concern for human rights and civilian lives.
• Alignment with Global South: India aims to be a leader in the Global South, where there is strong opposition to Israel’s actions. Countries like South Africa and Brazil have taken significant stances against Israel, which India, aspiring for similar leadership, cannot ignore.
• Balancing International Diplomacy: India’s criticism of Israel, as voiced by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, shows its effort to balance diplomatic relations, maintaining a principled stance while engaging with various global players.
• Strategic Interests: The conflict impacts India’s strategic interests in the region, especially concerning the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and broader stability in West Asia.
• Preventing Regional Escalation:The ongoing conflict poses a risk of broader regional instability involving Iran, Israel, and America, all key partners for India. Supporting a peaceful resolution to the Palestine issue aligns with India’s interest in maintaining regional stability.
• Act West Policy: An immediate end to the war and a permanent resolution to the Palestine question are integral to India’s Act West policy, highlighting its commitment to peace and stability in West Asia.

Road ahead

India should continue supporting the two-state solution, as it aligns with national interests and global sentiments. India’s recent UN votes against Israeli settlements and for Palestinian rights, coupled with calls for an immediate ceasefire, reflect this stance. Balancing ties with Israel while advocating for Palestinian self-determination and condemning violence is crucial. This approach is consistent with India’s aspiration to lead the Global South and address humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

(b)  Discuss the implications of the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime with Myanmar by the Indian Government on the complex ethno-political dynamics of the north-eastern region. 15 Marks

Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to scrap Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. Move is aimed to ensure internal security of the country and maintain demographic structure of India’s North-eastern States bordering Myanmar. Government has also decided to fence the Indo-Myanmar border. Currently, border with Myanmar (approx. 1643 km) is predominantly unfenced, except for a small section in Manipur covering approximately 10 km.

FMR between India and Myanmar

• It permits individuals residing within a 16 km radius of the border to traverse freely, without requirements of a visa or other documentation.
• It was formalized in 2018 as part of India’s Act East Policy.
• FMR regime conceptualized due to following reasons 
• Strong ethnic and familial ties across the border: The border demarcated by the British in 1826 effectively divided people of the same ethnicity and culture into two nations without their consent.
• Local trade and business: The region has a long history of trans-border commerce through customs and border haats. Given the low-income economy, such exchanges are vital for the sustenance of local livelihoods.

 Reasons for Scrapping FMR

• Illegal immigration: Uncontrolled immigration of Chin people from Myanmar leading to demographic changes in the region. 
• Ethnic violence and insurgency: Meitei community attributed last year’s tensions to the perceived illegal migration of tribal Kuki-Chin communities.
• Entry of soldiers from Myanmar: Exodus of junta soldiers seeking sanctuary in Mizoram which has serious security implications in India’s northeast.
• Surge in narcotics production in Myanmar: A report by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) linked Myanmar’s political turmoil under military junta to surge in flow of narcotics in the region.

Road ahead

• Border management: Union and the state governments as well as the border residents ensure that the border between India- and Myanmar is effectively secured and regulated.
• Strengthen security of the border by either giving the Assam Rifles the single mandate of guarding the border or deploying another border guarding force on Indo - Myanmar border.
• Expedite construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) along with other infrastructure.
• Diplomatic: There is a need of diplomatic agility in India’s engagement with Myanmar, including with military junta, to promote and protect national and regional interests.
• Weigh in the impact of action taken vis-à-vis corresponding benefits accrued in the context of regional security and India’s ‘Act East’ policy initiatives.
• Community engagement: Involve tribal communities in decision making to address sensitive issues and tribal fault lines as was visible in last year’s Manipur violence.

(c)  “India has of late, chosen to debunk non-alignment in its pursuit of multi-alignment.” Comment. 15 Marks

India’s Policy of Non-alignment had its genesis in the backdrop of cold war. However scenario has significantly changed with emergence of multiple power dynamics with a shift towards multi-alignment and multi-polar world.

India’s shift towards multi-alignment:

1. Deepening India-U.S. ties: Indian ties with USA has reached new heights despite of many issues. India signed a nuclear deal with US in 2008.India today is a signatory to 3 of 4 US foundational agreements that it signs with its strategic defence partners that is LEMOA, COMACASA and GSOMIA.US changed the name of its Pacific command to Indo-Pacific command.
2. Change in attitude for Israel: India today has vibrant relations with Israel which were earlier marred with Palestinian considerations. India’s traditional stance has always been of recognition of Arab rights of Palestine and limited relations with Israel.
3. Focus on Asia: India is a member of QUAD which partners Japan, US, Australia and India. It looks to further Indian interest in pacific region creating a major power bloc in the region.
4. Reaffirming ties with Russia: Russia is India’s long term friend. The strong links that exist between the two nations still exist. Russia is regaining its position as India’s principal defence supplier. The list of agreements drawn up in Moscow covers nuclear, space, energy and defence. Russia has committed to building additional nuclear reactors at Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) and in Andhra Pradesh.
5. Relations with China: India’s biggest border dispute is with China. Despite the 1962 war, serious localised fighting at the Nathu La and Cho La passes in 1967; and the Doklam stand-off in June 2017, China maintains good economic relations with India. It was because of the maturity of political leadership on both sides, as well as a commitment made by the two nations to non-violence three decades before.
6. Focus on middle-east: Relations between India and Pakistan remain stagnant, but with other Islamic countries like Saudi, Oman, Iran has deepened significantly. Significant investment has been made by Middle East countries in India.  
7. Relations with Japan: Japanese relations with India, is more than strategic, with defence, foreign policy, and economic aspects all receiving attention. Japan’s willingness to cooperate on peaceful nuclear energy and willingness to acknowledge India as a reliable and trustworthy nuclear power (despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) is again certain to have a positive impact on nuclear establishments across the world.

Reason for shift towards multi-alignment:

1. Economic needs of the fast-developing India had to be supported by opening of its economy and getting more foreign assistance.
2. World that emerged post-soviet era saw the rise of US as both an economic and strategic power. It was difficult to pursue India’s growth trajectory without engaging with US.
3. Globalisation, growing interdependence, and the emergence of transnational challenges have pushed India to engage with multiple global partners.
4. Emergence of economic powerhouse in form of China has also posed a new challenge in front of India.
5. Indian foreign policy is evolving to encompass the growing needs of its national security and prosperity.

India’s current foreign policy, Act east link west, Project Mausam, Indian Ocean overreach, Neighbourhood First policy, SCO, BRICS etc. are steps in right direction which will be beneficial for India. Non-alignment served India well during the difficult years from the mid to the late 20th century, but had apparently outlived its utility. The time had possibly come to shift towards multi-polar world, and India is just doing that. Today, India’s commitment to peace has been layered by a realistic appreciation of the shifting contours of a dynamic challenge.