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"The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World" by S. Jaishankar

Writer's picture: Shrikant SomanShrikant Soman


"The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World" is a book by S. Jaishankar, the current External Affairs Minister of India. The book focuses on India's foreign policy and offers insights into how the country can navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain global landscape.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part provides an overview of India's foreign policy history and its principles. The second part focuses on India's relationships with various regions of the world, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The third and final part of the book looks at specific challenges and opportunities facing India, such as climate change, technological disruption, and the rise of China.


Throughout the book, Jaishankar emphasizes the importance of India's strategic autonomy and its ability to pursue its own interests in the world. He argues that India's foreign policy should be guided by a set of core principles, including respect for international law, a commitment to multilateralism, and a focus on economic growth and development.

Overall, "The India Way" is a thoughtful and insightful analysis of India's role in the world today. The book offers a compelling vision for how India can navigate an uncertain and rapidly changing global landscape while staying true to its core values and interests.




S. Jaishankar's "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World" presents several key points on India's foreign policy, including:

  1. Strategic autonomy: India must maintain its strategic autonomy and be able to pursue its own interests in the world. Jaishankar argues that India should not be forced to choose between great powers and must be able to maintain relationships with all countries on its own terms.

  2. Multilateralism: India is committed to multilateralism and sees it as the best way to address global challenges. Jaishankar advocates for strengthening global institutions and partnerships to better address issues such as climate change, terrorism, and pandemics.

  3. Economic growth: India's foreign policy must focus on economic growth and development. Jaishankar believes that economic growth is essential to achieving India's broader strategic objectives and that foreign policy should aim to create a more conducive global environment for economic growth.

  4. Regional engagement: India's foreign policy must be regionally focused, with a focus on strengthening relationships with its immediate neighbors in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Jaishankar argues that India's relationships with its neighbors are critical to its broader strategic goals.

  5. Technology and innovation: India must embrace technology and innovation to remain competitive in the global economy. Jaishankar emphasizes the importance of investing in research and development and building a strong technological infrastructure to support economic growth.

  6. Global challenges: India must be prepared to address global challenges such as climate change, terrorism, and pandemics. Jaishankar argues that these challenges require global cooperation and a multilateral approach, and that India must play an active role in addressing them.

Overall, Jaishankar's main points in the book emphasize the importance of strategic autonomy, multilateralism, economic growth, regional engagement, technology and innovation, and addressing global challenges in India's foreign policy.


Here are some notable quotes from "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World" by S. Jaishankar:

  1. "The India way is to follow a pragmatic, purposeful, and nationally-determined foreign policy. It is a policy that is neither excessively defensive nor overly assertive, but one that is attentive to our interests, respectful of our sovereignty, and mindful of our responsibilities."

  2. "India believes in a multipolar world order, which respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. We believe that multilateralism is the best way to address global challenges and advance our common interests."

  3. "The India way is to work with all countries in the world, on the basis of shared interests and mutual respect. We do not see the world as a zero-sum game, where one country's gain is another's loss."

  4. "Our foreign policy is deeply rooted in our economic goals, as we seek to create a favorable external environment for our growth and development."

  5. One important lesson is demonstrating global relevance as the surest way of earning the world’s respect.

  6. Mastering mind games and playing hardball are also musts in a more visceral world.

  7. Geopolitics and balance of power are the underpinning of international relations.


S. Jaishankar identifies several weaknesses that India faces as it seeks to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. These include:

  1. Infrastructure: India's infrastructure remains a significant challenge, with inadequate transportation, energy, and communication systems hindering economic growth and development.

  2. Education and skills: India faces a significant skills gap, with its workforce lacking the necessary education and training to compete in the global economy.

  3. Bureaucracy and corruption: India's bureaucracy can be slow and inefficient, with corruption and red tape hindering economic growth and development.

  4. Geopolitical challenges: India faces significant geopolitical challenges, particularly in its relationship with China and Pakistan, which can impact its ability to pursue its strategic interests.

  5. Environmental challenges: India faces significant environmental challenges, including air pollution and climate change, which can have far-reaching consequences for its economy and society.

  6. Socio-economic disparities: India continues to face significant socio-economic disparities, with inequality and poverty remaining major challenges.


Overall, these weaknesses pose significant challenges for India as it seeks to build a more prosperous and secure future. Jaishankar argues that India must address these challenges head-on and invest in areas such as infrastructure, education, and the environment to achieve its long-term strategic goals.


In this book S. Jaishankar identifies several strengths that India possesses as it seeks to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. These include:

  1. Demographic dividend: India has a large and growing population, with a significant percentage of young people, which presents a potential demographic dividend in the form of a large and productive workforce.

  2. Economic potential: India has a rapidly growing economy, with a large and expanding middle class, and is expected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2030.

  3. Soft power: India has a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant democracy, which can help it build relationships with other countries and promote its values and interests on the global stage.

  4. Strategic location: India is strategically located at the crossroads of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean, which gives it a unique geostrategic position in the region.

  5. Military capability: India has a strong military with a diverse range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons, which can help it protect its strategic interests and project power in the region.

  6. Science and technology: India has a strong tradition of scientific and technological innovation, with a growing number of tech startups and a highly skilled workforce.

Overall, these strengths provide India with significant advantages as it seeks to pursue its strategic goals and navigate an uncertain world. Jaishankar argues that India must build on these strengths and continue to invest in areas such as education, technology, and infrastructure to achieve its full potential.

S. Jaishankar sees India's large population as an advantage in the long term, but also recognizes the challenges it poses in the short term. He argues that India's demographic dividend can be a significant asset in driving economic growth and development, particularly if the country invests in education, healthcare, and infrastructure to ensure that its workforce is well-educated and skilled.

Jaishankar also notes that India's large population can give it a significant advantage in areas such as agriculture and manufacturing, which can help it become more competitive in the global economy. However, he also recognizes that India's population can be a significant challenge in terms of providing basic services and infrastructure, particularly in areas such as healthcare and education.

Overall, Jaishankar sees India's large population as both an advantage and a challenge, and argues that the country must effectively manage its population growth and invest in the necessary infrastructure and services to ensure that it can fully realize the potential of its demographic dividend.


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