Realm 08: Neighbourhood Policy
Regional Integration, Border Security & Neighbourhood First
8.A — HISTORICAL EVOLUTION & REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
NODE 08.1
Post-Partition Realities
- Fractured subcontinental geography
- Colonial border legacies
- Kinship and refugee overlaps
NODE 08.2
Special Treaty Relationships
📜
🏔️
- 1949 Treaty with Bhutan
- 1950 Treaty with Nepal
- Open borders & security compacts
NODE 08.3
The Gujral Doctrine
→
- Principle of non-reciprocity
- Unilateral goodwill gestures
- Building subcontinental trust
NODE 08.4
Neighbourhood First Policy
🥇
↑
- Diplomatic priority ranking
- Inaugural swearing-in diplomacy
- Emergency aid and assistance
8.B — SECURITY & STRATEGIC COOPERATION
NODE 08.5
Border Management & ICPs
- Integrated Check Posts
- Smart fencing & surveillance
- Combating illegal trafficking
NODE 08.6
Counter-Terror Intelligence
🛰️
- Real-time intelligence sharing
- Extradition treaties framework
- Neutralizing insurgent sanctuaries
NODE 08.7
Maritime Domain Awareness
📡
- Coastal radar chains (Maldives/SL)
- White shipping agreements
- Information Fusion Centre (IFC-IOR)
NODE 08.8
First Responder & HADR
🚑
- Disaster response operations
- Operation Neer & Maitri
- Vaccine Maitri outreach
8.C — CONNECTIVITY & DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
NODE 08.9
Multi-Modal Transit Corridors
🚆
- BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement
- Cross-border railway links
- Inland water transit protocols
NODE 08.10
Cross-Border Energy Grids
⚡
💡
- South Asia regional power grid
- Nepal-Bhutan hydropower purchase
- India-Bangladesh pipeline (IBFP)
NODE 08.11
Development Assistance & LOCs
💰
→
- Concessional Lines of Credit
- High-impact community projects
- Civilian capacity building (ITEC)
NODE 08.12
Digital Public Infra Export
📱
💳
- Cross-border UPI linkages
- RuPay card expansion in neighbors
- South Asia Satellite services
8.D — CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES & GEOPOLITICS
NODE 08.13
The China Footprint
🇨🇳
→
- BRI infrastructure penetration
- Strategic dual-use ports & debt
- Sino-Indian regional competition
NODE 08.14
Regime Transitions & Politics
?
- Electoral shifts impacting policy
- Anti-India political platforms
- Navigating domestic polarization
NODE 08.15
Perception Management
↔
- Asymmetry & "Big Brother" concerns
- Sensitivities of smaller states
- Fostering non-coercive partnerships
NODE 08.16
Sub-Regional Realignment
BIMSTEC
>
SAARC
- Bypassing stalled SAARC
- Focus on Bay of Bengal (BIMSTEC)
- Sub-regional connectivity (BBIN)