Question

Former Prime Minister, Late Mr. I.K. Gujral propounded the Gujral Doctrine when he was the Union Minister of External Affairs in 1996-1997 in the H.D. Deve Gowda Government. Which of the following defines the Gujral Doctrine ?

• A. It was post cold-war initiative of India to improve relationship with US.
• B. Its emphasis was on unilateral accommodation for friendly and warm relations with India’s neighbours.
• C. It was shift of India from Nehruvian idealism to realism in foreign policy
• D. It signalled the emphasis attached by India to East Asis under ‘Look East Policy’.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Its emphasis was on unilateral accommodation for friendly and warm relations with India’s neighbours.

Former Prime Minister, Late Mr. I.K. Gujral propounded the Gujral Doctrine when he was the Union Minister of External Affairs in 1996-1997 in the H.D. Deve Gowda Government.

The Gujral doctrine was a five-point roadmap which sought to build trust between India and neighbours.

The ‘Doctrine’ emphasized on the importance of unilateral accommodation for friendly and warm relations with India’s neighbours.

The five principles are:

1. With neighbours like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity, but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust.
2. No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region.
3. No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another.
4. All South Asian countries must respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
5. They should settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations.