MAINS 2016
GS2
12.5 marks
Evaluate the economic and strategic dimensions of India’s Look East Policy in the context of the post-Cold War international scenario.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Evaluate the economic and strategic outcomes of India's Look East Policy after the Cold War.
EvaluateWeigh what works and what does not, and say how far it succeeds.
Demand-wise check
- 1Context: Soviet collapse, 1991 crisis and reforms, rise of ASEAN and China≈35 words
- 2Economic: ASEAN partnership, FTA, investment from Japan, Korea, Singapore; widening trade deficit≈35 words
- 3Strategic: Phase II (2003) beyond ASEAN to Japan, Australia; naval cooperation, East Asia Summit, balancing China≈35 words
- 4Evaluation: slow connectivity projects; upgraded to Act East (2014)≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Post-Cold War contextPhasesEconomic gains and limitsStrategic gainsEvaluation
Where marks usually go
- Writing only on Act East
- No evaluation of shortfalls
Draw this
- Timeline: 1992 sectoral partner → 1996 dialogue partner → 2002 summit → 2009 FTA → 2014 Act East
Value addition
- AgreementASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement signed 2009, in force 2010.ASEAN-India FTA
- ProjectKaladan Multimodal Transit Project and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway remain delayed.MEA
- UpdateIndia-ASEAN ties raised to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.ASEAN-India Summit, 2022
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.