Principles of the Policy of Non-Alignment

The policy of non-alignment is based on the following principles:

• Independence: India would not align itself with any of the major power blocs of the time, the United States and the Soviet Union.
• Non-interference: India would not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
• Peaceful coexistence: India would work to promote peaceful coexistence between all countries.
• Disarmament: India would work to promote disarmament and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
• Economic development: India would work to promote economic development and to improve the lives of its people.

The policy of non-alignment has been a major success for India. It has allowed India to maintain its independence and to play a leading role in the world. The policy has also helped India to develop its economy and to improve its relations with other countries. The policy of non-alignment is still relevant today. The world is still divided into major power blocs, and India is still a developing country. The policy of non-alignment allows India to maintain its independence and to play a leading role in the world.

Nehru’s Role

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, played a significant role in shaping the nation’s foreign policy from 1946 to 1964. His objectives were to preserve sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote economic development. He aimed for nonalignment, despite opposition from pro-democracy parties like Dr. Ambedkar and opposition from political parties like Bharatiya Jan Sangh and Swatantra Party.

Distance from Two Camps

India’s foreign policy aimed for a peaceful world by advocating non-alignment, reducing Cold War tensions, and contributing human resources to UN peacekeeping operations. Despite not joining NATO or the Warsaw Pact, India maintained independence on international issues and received aid from both blocs. Pakistan joined US-led military alliances, leading to unease in Indo-US relations during the 1950s. India’s planned economic development strategy, emphasizing import-substitution and developing a resource base, limited export-oriented growth and limited India’s economic interaction with the outside world.

Afro-Asian Unity

Nehru envisioned India’s significant role in world affairs, particularly in Asian affairs. He established contacts with other Asian and African states, advocating for Asian unity and decolonization. India supported Indonesia’s freedom struggle and opposed racism, particularly apartheid in South Africa. The Bandung Conference in 1955 marked India’s engagement with Asian and African nations, leading to the establishment of the National Assembly (NAM) in 1961. Nehru co-founded the NAM.

Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 The Policy of Non-Alignment: The policy of non-alignment was a foreign policy that was adopted by India after it gained independence in 1947. The policy was based on the idea that India would not align itself with any of the major power blocs of the time, the United States and the Soviet Union. The policy was also based on the idea that India would pursue its independent foreign policy and would not be dictated to by any other country.

In this article, we will look into the topic ‘The Policy of Non-Alignment’ in detail. It is an important topic in Political Science Class 12. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on the topic Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 The Policy of Non-Alignment.