Daily Mains Answer Writing –14 October 2025

Model Answer

Introduction

The traditional coherence of the West under American leadership is weakening. Internal political divisions in the US and Europe’s pursuit of strategic autonomy have created a more plural and differentiated Western order. This shift represents not a Western decline but an internal rearrangement, with Europe, the UK, and democratic Asia redefining their roles. For India, this emerging multipolar West creates new diplomatic space, opportunities for diversification, and certain structural risks.

Structural Evolution of the West

• Decline of post-war transatlantic unity: The unity forged under US dominance after 1945 has eroded as nationalism, trade friction, and ideological divides deepen within the West.
• Rise of European autonomy: Macron’s call for a “Europe puissante,” Scholz’s Zeitenwende, and Ursula von der Leyen’s 2025 address together articulate Europe’s ambition to act independently in defence, technology, and economy.
• Unpredictable US leadership: The Trump-era “America First” nationalism disrupted established alliances and forced Europe and Asia to prepare for uncertain American commitments.
• Western pluralism: The US, Europe, and Asian democracies now operate through convergent but autonomous agendas, seeking issue-based partnerships rather than bloc alignments.

Implications for India’s Diplomacy

• Strategic diversification: India has expanded engagement with the EU, UK, and EFTA through new trade and investment pacts.
• Deepening institutional cooperation: The EU’s 2025 Joint Communication identifies India as central to Europe’s Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasising cooperation in supply chains, digital public infrastructure, and clean energy.
• Pragmatic multi-alignment: India maintains flexible coalitions — with the US in the Quad and IPEF, with Europe through the Global Gateway, and with Russia in BRICS and SCO.
• Expanded strategic space: A plural West allows India to avoid exclusive alignment and pursue interest-based partnerships.
• Emerging risks: A fragmented West may weaken collective responses to China’s and Russia’s assertiveness, undermining global stability that India relies on for growth.

India’s Adaptive Strategy

• Balancing major powers: India sustains engagement with the US and Europe while retaining autonomy in its ties with Russia and China.
• Domestic challenge: Institutional sluggishness and slow reforms limit India’s capacity to utilise external opportunities.
• Future course: To leverage Western pluralism, India must modernise faster — through digital reforms, defence self-reliance, and export competitiveness.

Conclusion

The rise of a multipolar West signals a fluid global order in which alliances are transactional and overlapping. India’s foreign policy maturity lies in navigating this pluralism with agility and internal readiness. Success will depend not just on diplomatic dexterity but on aligning domestic reforms with external opportunities to anchor India as a credible partner in an increasingly diversified West.

Model Answer

Introduction

India–Bhutan relations have historically been marked by deep trust and cultural proximity. However, the recent decision to construct two cross-border railway lines — Kokrajhar–Gelephu and Banarhat–Samtse — represents a new phase of engagement. It signals a move beyond traditional goodwill towards infrastructure-driven strategic cooperation. This shift aligns with India’s goal of building secure, economically integrated borders in South Asia, particularly amid rising Chinese assertiveness.

Body

Strategic rationale behind the projects:

• First-ever railway link for Bhutan: 89 km of new connectivity fully financed by India.
• Integration with India’s 1.5 lakh km rail network: provides Bhutan direct access to Indian ports and industrial hubs.
• Enhances access for border states like Assam and West Bengal: supports local trade, tourism, and jobs.

Security and geopolitical dimension:

• Location significance: proximity to the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor — India’s most sensitive strategic passage to the Northeast.
• Strategic utility: improved logistics for troop and equipment movement in emergencies.
• Counter to China: Beijing’s railway from Xinjiang to Tibet via Aksai Chin increases India’s threat perception. India’s proactive projects demonstrate deterrence and regional preparedness.

China’s shadow and regional competition:

• Bhutan’s border dispute with China remains unresolved: Chinese infrastructure near Doklam adds to India’s security concern.
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative expanding through South Asia: India’s connectivity diplomacy acts as counterbalance.

Economic and developmental impact:

• Promotes Bhutan’s economic diversification: strengthens Mindfulness City at Gelephu and Samtse’s industrial zone.
• Boosts bilateral trade and tourism: Bhutan gains access to global supply chains through Indian routes.
• Job creation and skill transfer: long-term benefits for both border economies.

Critical dimension:

• Bhutan’s environmental sensitivities: railway alignment must balance ecology and development.
• Dependence asymmetry: while interdependence grows, Bhutan’s economic reliance on India deepens.

Conclusion

The India–Bhutan railway projects transform connectivity into a tool of diplomacy and deterrence. They symbolize India’s capacity to integrate development and security, while reinforcing the Himalayan frontier against Chinese encirclement. Yet, sustainable progress depends on ensuring that strategic objectives complement Bhutan’s ecological and sovereignty concerns. In essence, connectivity has evolved from being symbolic to becoming the foundation of mutual resilience and regional stability in the eastern Himalayas.