Promotion of International Peace and Security (Article 51)
Indian Polity › Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) · Topic 7.8
Article 51 directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations, respect international law and treaty obligations and encourage arbitration. India’s non-alignment and Panchsheel express it.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Directive Principles
At a Glance
- What it is The directive on international peace, just relations, respect for international law and arbitration
- Article Article 51, the last of the Directive Principles
- Four limbs Peace and security; just and honourable relations; international law and treaties; arbitration
- Policy expression Non-alignment and Panchsheel
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Directive Principles
Where Does It Fit?
This is the eighth topic of the category on Directive Principles. Article 51 is the last Article of Part IV and is the constitutional base of India’s foreign policy. The promotion of world peace is the first principle of India’s foreign policy.
What Does Article 51 Direct?
Article 51 says the State shall endeavour to promote international peace and security; maintain just and honourable relations between nations; foster respect for international law and treaty obligations; and encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
| Limb | Aim |
|---|---|
| 1 | Promote international peace and security |
| 2 | Maintain just and honourable relations between nations |
| 3 | Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations |
| 4 | Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration |
India’s Policy of Non-Alignment
When India became independent, the world was divided into two blocs, the capitalist bloc headed by the USA and the communist bloc headed by the former USSR. In this cold war situation India refused to join either bloc and adopted non-alignment. Nehru said India proposed to keep away from the power politics of groups aligned against one another. Non-alignment means that India has no military alliances with countries of either bloc or any nation; that India has an independent approach to foreign policy; and that India attempts to maintain friendly relations with all countries.
Panchsheel
Panchsheel implies five principles of conduct in international relations. It was embodied in the Preamble of the Indo-China Treaty on Tibet, signed in 1954 by Jawaharlal Nehru and the Chinese Premier Chou En-lai.
| No. | Principle |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty |
| 2 | Non-aggression |
| 3 | Non-interference in each other’s internal affairs |
| 4 | Equality and mutual benefit |
| 5 | Peaceful co-existence |
Panchsheel became very popular, and many countries such as Burma, Yugoslavia and Indonesia adopted it. Panchsheel and non-alignment are described as India’s greatest contributions to the theory and practice of international relations.
Support to the United Nations and Disarmament
India became a member of the UNO in 1945 and has supported its activities. In 1953 Vijay Lakshmi Pandit of India was elected President of the UN General Assembly. India has taken part in UN peace-keeping missions in Korea, Congo, El Salvador, Cambodia, Angola, Somalia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Yugoslavia, among others, and has several times been a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India’s foreign policy is opposed to the arms race and advocates disarmament, conventional and nuclear. India took the initiative of holding a six-nation summit at New Delhi in 1985 and made proposals for nuclear disarmament. By not signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (1968) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1996), India has kept its nuclear options open, opposing them as discriminatory.
Other Principles of Foreign Policy
The foreign policy of India also opposes colonialism and racialism. India snapped diplomatic relations with South Africa in 1954 as a protest against apartheid and played a role in the liberation of Zimbabwe and Namibia. It has shown a special bias towards Afro-Asian nations: it called the first Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in 1947, took part in the Afro-Asian Conference at Bandung in 1955, and helped form the Group of 77 (1964), the Group of 15 (1990), SAARC (1985), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (1997) and BIMSTEC (1997).
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Constitutional base of foreign policy Article 51 links the Constitution to external relations
- Panchsheel facts The five principles and the 1954 treaty are asked frequently
- Easy four-limb recall The wording of Article 51 is asked directly
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the relationship between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles.
Key People and Terms
- Non-alignment Staying out of military blocs and keeping an independent foreign policy
- Panchsheel Five principles of conduct in international relations
- Arbitration Settlement of disputes by an agreed neutral authority
- Treaty obligations Commitments states undertake in treaties
- Cold war The division of the world between two blocs after the Second World War
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Article 51 has four limbs: peace, just relations, international law, arbitration.
- Panchsheel: 1954, Nehru and Chou En-lai, Indo-China Treaty on Tibet.
- Panchsheel has five principles.
- Non-alignment: no military alliances, independent approach, friendly relations with all.
Do Not Confuse With
- Non-alignment and neutrality India kept an independent approach and friendly ties with all
- Panchsheel and non-alignment The first is five principles of conduct; the second is a policy of staying out of blocs
Memory Hook
Fifty-one looks outward: peace, honour, law and arbitration, with Panchsheel as its voice.
Mains Angle
Questions on this topic usually ask how the Constitution shapes foreign policy. Use these points to add depth.
- Directive basis Article 51 states the aims of foreign policy
- Policy expression Non-alignment and Panchsheel
- Anti-colonial stand Opposition to colonialism and racialism
- Regional groups Role in Afro-Asian and regional groupings
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“How does Article 51 shape India’s foreign policy? Illustrate with non-alignment and Panchsheel.”
How to Answer
- Introduction Text of Article 51.
- Policies Non-alignment and Panchsheel.
- Other principles Anti-colonialism and regional groupings.
- Conclusion A directive as the constitutional anchor of foreign policy.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Article 51 of the Constitution provide?
Article 51, the last Directive Principle in Part IV, directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
What are the five principles of Panchsheel?
Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. They were embodied in the Preamble of the 1954 Indo-China Treaty on Tibet signed by Nehru and Chou En-lai.
What does non-alignment mean?
Non-alignment means India has no military alliances with countries of either bloc or any nation, follows an independent approach to foreign policy, and tries to maintain friendly relations with all countries. India adopted it in the cold war period when the world was divided into two blocs.
Why is Article 51 important for foreign policy?
Article 51 states the aims of foreign policy in the Constitution. The promotion of world peace is the first principle of India’s foreign policy, and it is linked directly to Article 51, which asks the State to promote international peace and security.
Which regional and international groups did India help form?
India played an important role in the formation of the Group of 77 (1964), SAARC (1985), the Group of 15 (1990), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (1997) and BIMSTEC (1997), and in the Afro-Asian Conference at Bandung in 1955.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Article 51 directs the State to encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
It is one of its four limbs.
2 Panchsheel was embodied in the 1954 Indo-China Treaty on Tibet.
It was signed by Nehru and Chou En-lai.
3 Panchsheel has seven principles.
It has five principles.
4 Non-alignment means India has military alliances with one of the two blocs.
It means no military alliances with either bloc.
Related Topics
Browse the full Indian Polity index