QUESTION 19
GS2
15 marks
“Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India’s foreign policy, and is linked with India’s overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries.” How would you integrate energy security with India’s foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Explain how energy security drives India's foreign policy and suggest how to integrate it in future strategy, especially with West Asia.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Dependence: about 85% of crude oil imported; West Asia as main supplier; LNG from Qatar≈65 words
- 2Current tools: strategic petroleum reserves, diversification (Russia, US, Guyana), I2U2, IMEC, ISA≈65 words
- 3Future: renewable partnerships, critical minerals, green hydrogen deals, nuclear fuel, protecting sea lanes≈65 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Dependence dataPresent foreign policy toolsFuture integrationConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only describing oil imports
- No forward-looking strategy
Draw this
- Map of energy import routes
Value addition
- DataIndia imports about 85% of its crude oil needs.Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell
- InitiativeIndia–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was announced at the G20 summit, 2023.Ministry of External Affairs
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.