India's foreign policy dilemma: Balancing global ambitions & domestic needs

India's growing global role clashes with its domestic challenges. Navigating foreign policy requires a balance between global responsibilities and the imperative of social and economic development

India is still a developing country with a low per capita income of $2,500, which also camouflages wide income and wealth inequalities. India currently ranks 134th out of 193 countries in the Human Development Index, which is a more accurate measure of progress in the social and economic welfare of a country’s population. The road to Viksit (Developed) Bharat is likely to be a long one, and almost certainly stretching beyond 2047, the centenary of India’s Independence.

While India may be classified as a low- to middle-income country, in per capita terms — which is what matters