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MAINS 2014
GS1
10 marks

How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?

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7 min
150 words
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What the examiner wants

Explain how India views its role in resource-rich, fast-growing Africa.

DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1India's interests: energy (oil from Nigeria, Angola; gas in Mozambique), minerals, food security (agricultural land), markets for pharma, IT, vehicles≈30 words
  2. 2India's approach: development partnership not extraction: lines of credit, capacity building (ITEC), Pan-African e-Network, India-Africa Forum Summits≈30 words
  3. 3Comparison with China: India's demand-driven, people-centric model vs China's state-led infrastructure≈30 words
  4. 4Challenges: lower financial muscle, project delays, security issues; opportunities: diaspora, AfCFTA, AU in G20≈30 words

Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.

Answer plan

Africa's rise and resourcesIndia's interestsInstrumentsContrast with ChinaChallengesConclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Writing a general India-Africa relations answer without the economic and resource angle
  • No mention of competition with China

Draw this

  • Africa map marking India's key energy and mineral partners

Value addition

  • ReportAt the third India-Africa Forum Summit (2015) with all 54 countries, India announced US$10 billion in concessional credit over five years.IAFS-III, 2015
  • ExampleThe African Union became a permanent member of the G20 under India's presidency in 2023.G20 New Delhi Summit, 2023