India’s Soft Power Diplomacy Under the Neighbourhood First Policy

India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP), launched in 2014, prioritizes strengthening ties with South Asian neighbors by leveraging soft power—cultural affinity, historical connections, and developmental cooperation—to build influence through attraction rather than coercion. While the policy has notched successes, it grapples with geopolitical rivalries, notably from China, and internal inefficiencies. Below is an enriched analysis of the article’s insights, expanded with context, data, and strategic depth, crafted to be more informative in 250-500 words.


Soft Power Foundations and Successes

India’s soft power rests on three pillars:

  • Cultural and Historical Ties: India taps into its civilizational legacy—Buddhism, Hinduism, and shared linguistic roots—to foster goodwill. The promotion of Buddhist pilgrimage sites like Bodh Gaya and Sarnath resonates with Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, while Bollywood’s popularity in Nepal and Bangladesh reinforces cultural bonds. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) amplifies this through scholarships and events like the International Day of Yoga, deepening people-to-people ties.
  • Development Assistance: India’s consultative, non-reciprocal aid has delivered tangible benefits. In Bhutan, Indian-funded hydropower projects, such as the 1,020 MW Tala plant, generate 40% of national revenue, lifting its GDP per capita from $1,900 in 2008 to over $3,400 in 2020. Medical tourism—over 60,000 Bangladeshis annually seek treatment in India—and infrastructure like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Corridor with Myanmar showcase India’s role as a regional partner.
  • Educational Outreach: The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program has trained over 200,000 professionals from neighboring countries since 1964, building capacity in IT and governance. Scholarships, including 1,000 annual slots for Afghan students, cement long-term institutional links.

Challenges to Effectiveness

Despite these gains, India’s soft power faces hurdles:

  • China’s Influence: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) overshadows India with swift, large-scale projects—like Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port—drawing neighbors into its economic orbit. Nepal and the Maldives also tilt toward Beijing, challenging India’s regional clout.
  • Domestic Politics: Political shifts in neighboring countries disrupt ties. The “India Out” campaign in the Maldives highlights how local narratives can sour relations, while Nepal’s occasional alignment with China signals wavering loyalties.
  • Implementation Delays: Slow project execution, such as the stalled Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project with Nepal (initiated in 1996), undermines trust. Bureaucratic inefficiencies contrast with China’s rapid delivery.
  • Security Tensions: Cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle force India to adopt hard power measures, clashing with its soft power image.

Strategic Enhancements

To bolster its soft power, India could:

  • Scale Cultural Diplomacy: Expand festivals, film collaborations, and pilgrimage tourism, leveraging the Indian diaspora—significant in Nepal and Sri Lanka—as cultural ambassadors.
  • Speed Up Projects: Enhance monitoring and involve private firms to expedite initiatives like the BBIN transport network.
  • Embrace Digital Tools: Offer online education and health services to deepen post-pandemic ties.
  • Lead on Climate: Partner on Himalayan water management or renewable energy, mirroring Bhutan’s carbon-neutral Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Conclusion

India’s NFP has harnessed soft power to foster regional solidarity, but competition with China and internal delays demand a sharper approach. By blending cultural outreach with efficient project delivery, digital innovation, and environmental leadership, India can solidify its stature as a benevolent regional anchor, enhancing stability and prosperity in South Asia while elevating its global soft power standing.