Dimension: STED- MCPS What to write
S Strategic & Security efence, military exercises, intelligence, Indo-Pacific, maritime
D
security, terrorism
T Trade & Economy rade, FTA, investment, supply chains, market access, digital
T
economy
Energy & Critical
E Oil, gas, LNG, green hydrogen, lithium, uranium, rare earths
Minerals
Development
D LoC, grants, infrastructure, capacity building, technology transfer
Partnership
Multilateral
M UN, G20, BRICS, SCO, Quad, WTO, IMF, climate negotiations
Cooperation
C Connectivity IMEC, INSTC, Chabahar, ports, railways, digital connectivity
P People-to-People Diaspora, education, tourism, culture, healthcare, migration
S Soft Power Yoga, Buddhism, Ayurveda, ICCR, democratic values
Issues→ PESTEL
● Political→Trust deficit + Domestic politics + Policy divergence
● Economic→Trade imbalance + Protectionism + Sanctions+ Supply chain risks
● Security→Border dispute + Terrorism + Maritime disputes + Cyber threats
● Strategic→Third-country influence + Great Power competition
● Legal→Treaty issues + WTO disputes
● Social→Migration + Visa + Diaspora safety
● Technological
Mention in Tech Diplomacy
● Semiconductors + AI + Cyber Security + Quantum + Space
● 5G/6G + Digital Public Infrastructure + Critical Technologies + Data Governance
Mention in context of India’s Foreign Policy Framework
● National Interest + Strategic Autonomy + Multi-alignment + Neighbourhood First
● Act East + Think West + SAGAR + Global South
● Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
● Development Partnership
Universal "Way Forwards"
● Diversify partnerships + Strengthen strategic autonomy
● Deepen economic integration
● Promote technology collaboration
● Expand development partnership
● Build resilient supply chains
● Reform multilateral institutions
● Leverage diaspora and soft power
● Pursue sustainable and inclusive diplomacy
Keyword Meaning
indleberger Trap (USA
K egemon declines but no state provides global public
H
decline) goods.
hucydides Trap (USA vs
T Rising power vs established power leading to conflict.
China)
ecurity Dilemma (Middle east
S One state's security creates insecurity for others.
issue)
iddle Power Diplomacy
M States influencing beyond their size.
(Israel)
Strategic Decoupling Separation of economic systems.
Polycrisis Multiple interconnected global crises.
Technopolar World Technology companies influence geopolitics.
Fragmented Globalisation Globalisation continues but through blocs.
Digital Sovereignty Control over digital infrastructure and data.
Critical Mineral Diplomacy Competition for lithium, cobalt, rare earths.
Phrase One-line Meaning / Usage
Strategic Convergence ountries increasingly align due to shared strategic
C
interests despite differences.
Competitive Coexistence tates compete in some domains while cooperating in
S
others.
Convergence without Alliance trategic cooperation without entering a formal military
S
alliance.
Economics Driving Geopolitics rade, technology and investments increasingly
T
determine geopolitical choices.
Interdependence with Resilience educing strategic vulnerabilities while preserving
R
economic interdependence.
onnectivity as the New Currency Infrastructure, ports and digital corridors have become
C
of Influence tools of geopolitical influence.
echnology as the New Theatre of A
T I, semiconductors, cyber and space are emerging
Strategic Competition arenas of great-power rivalry.
Shifting Balance of Power edistribution of global influence due to the rise and
R
decline of major powers.
Thinker Quote Best Use
Lord Palmerston " Nations have no permanent friends or niversal quote for bilateral
U
allies; they have only permanent relations, alliances, foreign
interests." policy.
Kautilya " The immediate neighbour is a natural eighbourhood policy, China,
N
enemy, while the neighbour's neighbour Pakistan, balance of power.
is a natural ally."
Henry Kissinger " No country can act wisely trategic prioritisation, limited
S
simultaneously in every part of the resources, foreign policy.
globe at every moment."
lfred Thayer
A " Whoever controls the seas commands Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean,
Mahan the destiny of nations." maritime security, Blue
Economy.
Robert Kaplan " Geography has been the greatest force Borders, connectivity,
shaping world history." Indo-Pacific, Eurasia.
John F. Kennedy " Geography has made us neighbours. India-US, India-Japan,
History has made us friends. India-ASEAN, regional
Economics has made us partners." cooperation.
Joseph Nye " The best propaganda is not oft power, public diplomacy,
S
propaganda."(Power ultimately rests on India's global image.
attraction rather than coercion.)
artin Luther
M " We must learn to live together as lobal cooperation, climate
G
King Jr. brothers or perish together as fools." change, pandemics,
multilateralism.
C. Raja Mohan
● India is no longer balancing between powers; it is balancing multiple relationships.
○ Multi-alignment, India's foreign policy
● India's rise depends as much on external partnerships as on internal transformation.
S Jainshankar
● The India Way is to engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia, draw
neighbours in and extend the neighbourhood. (India's multi-alignment strategy.)
● India's worldview is consultative, democratic and equitable.
ny Grouping→ Theory based question—> Genesis→ Objective→ Strategic significance→
A
Economic significance→ Challenge→ India's role→ Future
Dimension Any International Organisation)
eed /
N
● ules-based international order
R
Significance ● Global governance • Collective action • Global public goods
● Conflict resolution • Economic cooperation
● Sustainable development • Humanitarian assistance
● Technology & knowledge sharing • Climate action
● Health security • Capacity building • Platform for dialogue
Importance
● ilateral Significance wala part
B
for India ● Technology transfer
● Development finance
● Voice of Global South
● Strategic autonomy
● Leadership opportunities
● Soft power
Issues /
● reat Power rivalry
G
Challenges ● Consensus paralysis + Representation deficit
● Outdated institutional structure
● Weak enforcement mechanisms
● Funding constraints
● Politicisation • North–South divide
● Emerging challenges (AI, cyber, climate)
eforms
R
● emocratise governance
D
Required ● Increase representation of developing countries
● Strengthen dispute resolution
● Technology-enabled governance
● Make institutions fit for 21st-century challenges