1. Non-Alignment: The basic principles of foreign policy are Non-Alignment. After the II World War, the world war divided into two military blocs, one led by the USA and another by USSR. Many countries blocs. But India was not aligned to any of the military blocs. India was the first country to speak of non-alignment and major contributor to the emergence of the Non-Align Movement.

Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minister of India, Gen. Sukarno President of Indonesia, Josif Broz Tito President of Yugoslavia Kwame Nkrumah Prime Minister of Ghana and Gamal Abdel Nasser Leader of Egypt were the founders of this movement. The first summit of NAM which was held at Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1961 with 25 member countries.

At present, it has 128 members. Recent NAM Summit concluded in August 2012 at Tehran Iran. Venezuela will host the next 17^th NAM Summit in 2015.

2. Opposition of Imperialism and colonialism: As a colony of the British over 200 years, India firmly stood in opposition to any form of imperialism and colonialism. India. played a major role in liberating the newly independent countries of Asia and Africa from colonial shackles.

3. Faith in the UN: As a founding members of 6N, India has played a major role in achieving world peace. India as a major democratic country in the world is collaborating with UN agencies viz: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNIDO. Indian foreign policy supports and regards the UN as an agency for world peace.

It has always advocated for peaceful settlement of international disputes within the purview of the UN. India has contributed its troops to the UN peacekeeping force operations in the tense and conflicated areas and different regions, especially in diffcult missions of the world.

4. Fairness of means: With the inspiration of Gandhian ideas, India has always emphasized fair means in resolving international disputes. India has supported peaceful and non-violent methods and opposed the war, aggression and power politics anywhere in the world. In the Asian relations conference, New Delhi on 2^nd April of 1947. Indian foreign policy expresses full faith in peaceful means for the settlement of dispues. India repudiates the use of force, it belives in peace achieved through peaceful means a good end through right and just means.

5. Anti – aparthied and racial discrimination: India has stood by the principles of racial equality and opposes discrimination on the basis of race, religion caste, colour, and sex. India opposed and rejected the doctrine of white supremacy, it has been the most outspoken critic of racism. Equal and honourable treatment of all in the world in India’s goal. India is always against of the policy of apartheid followed in the South Africa and it’s broke off diplomatic relations with it as a protest to social discrimination.

6. Panchasheel: Panchasheel continues to be another fundamental principle of Indian foreign policy. An agreement signed between Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Chinese Prime Minister Zhou-enLai on April, 29^th 1954, sought to govern the relationship between India and China on the basis of five principles.

• Mutual respect for each others territorial integrity and sovereignty. 
• Mutual non-agression. 
• Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. 
• Equality and mutual benefits. 
• Peaceful co-existence.

It is a principle of peaceful co-existence with other nations, it guided the basis of relationship between 1954-57 marked by numerous visits and exchanges. This period is described as the Sino-Indian honeymoon.

7. Tie with the commonwealth: Although India gets its independence from British imperalism she decided to remain within the common-wealth of Nations. The British Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth, it is made up of Britain and other countries which had once been her colonies, Traditionally India had many economic ties with the UK and other member countries of the Commonwealth Association.

In many commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) strident declarations were passed regarding the problem of social discrimination, apartheid, violation of human rights and other issues of democracy in the member countries and the world. The 23^rd CHOGM was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2013. Next Summit will be designated at Tanzania in 2015.

8. Disarmament: Major concern of India’s foreign policy in the post-cold war period is disarmament and arms race in the world. As a leader of NAM, India established beyond doubt that arms race is at the expense of human development. Expenditure on arms and ammunitions depletes distorts economic progress, programs for removal of poverty, eradication of diseases spread of education and easy availability of basic needs.

9. Sympathy towards divided Countries: Partition of India and Pakistan due to divide and rule policy of British in 1947, resulted in terrible communal riots, enormous sufferings of people who moved out of their homes and had to begin their life again as refugees. Because of the bitter experience of this incident. India is sympathetic towards the bifurcation of Palestine in Arab, South and North Korea, East and West Germany (Now unified) and Vietnam.

10. Concern towards small countries: India’s foreign policy emphasizes its come towards small countries of the world. India supported Malasia (1948), Ghana (1957) and Bangladesh (1971) to encourage and emerge as independent nations. Most of the decolonized territories are mini and micro states, small both in area and popultion, got the membership in NAM because of India’s support.

Since its independence, India is extending economic assistance to small countries in the world and always in the forefront of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-torn or small nations affected by natural disasters.

11. Affinity towards Afro-Asian Countries: Though India has the relations with all countries of the world, she has special affinity towards the countries in Asia and Africa which are very near and following the principles followed by her. India supported at the freedom struggle of African countries e.g. Namibia became independent in March 1990, Nelson Mandela the first black leader became the President of South Africa in May 1994. In the first Afro-Asian countries summit at Bandung in 1955.

12. Against Cold War: Cold war began with the formation of two power blocs at the end of II world war viz. US and USSR. Rivalry between them resulted in the emergence of many military alliances eg: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) ANZUS (Australia New Zealand United States alliance) SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organisation). Bagdad Pact, CENTO (Central Treaty Organization). As a leader of NAM, it stayed away from the two blocs.

India’s policy was neither negative nor passive, as Pandit Nehru declared to the world that NAM was not a policy of ‘fleeing away!’ India tried to reduce the rivalry between two blocs and chose to involve other members of the non-aligned group, in this mission. With the disintegration of USSR the cold war ended.