Question

State any four reasons to explain why India adopted a Non-Alignment policy during the Cold War.

Answer 1

1. Non-Alignment allowed India to assert its independence and avoid entanglement in the ideological conflicts between the two superpowers USA and USSR.
2. It aimed at promoting global peace and India believed that aligning with any superpower would contribute to the arms race, leading to a global conflict.
3. India, as a newly independent nation, prioritized economic development and Non-Alignment allowed India to pursue its development goals without being drawn into military conflicts and economic dependencies.
4. Non-alignment helped India promote principles such as anti-colonialism, disarmament, and peaceful coexistence.
5. By not aligning with any major power bloc, India sought to play a leadership role in the Non-Alignment Movement, to build solidarity among developing nations.
6. India wanted to stay away from the conflict between the two superpowers.