Look East Policy and Its Evolution into Act East Policy
International Relations & Places in News › India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles · Topic 18.4
The Look East Policy was launched in 1991 to 1992 under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, as India opened its economy after the balance of payments crisis, to build economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asia and East Asia. India became a sectoral dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1996 and a summit-level partner in 2002. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Act East Policy at the East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in November 2014. It added a focus on action, connectivity, strategic cooperation and the role of the North East, and widened the geography to include the Indo-Pacific. In 2022, ASEAN and India raised ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · International Relations · India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles
At a Glance
- Look East 1991 to 1992, Narasimha Rao
- Act East November 2014, Modi, Nay Pyi Taw
- ASEAN stages Sectoral 1992; full 1996; summit 2002
- Upgrade Comprehensive strategic partnership, 2022
- Focus Connectivity, trade, North East
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, International Relations: India’s Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourth topic of the macro on India’s foreign policy doctrines and principles. It shows how a policy changed from engagement to action, and it links with the Indo-Pacific strategy in the next topics. Previous topic: Gujral Doctrine. Next topic: Neighbourhood First Policy.
How Did the Policy Evolve?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1991 to 1992 | Narasimha Rao launched the Look East Policy after the economic reforms and the end of the Cold War, to reconnect with the fast-growing economies of East Asia |
| ASEAN partnership | India became a sectoral dialogue partner in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1996 and joined the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996. The first India-ASEAN Summit was held in 2002 |
| Second phase | From about 2003 it extended to East Asia and Australasia, with India joining the East Asia Summit in 2005 |
| Strategic partnership | The relationship was raised to a strategic partnership in 2012 and to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022 |
| Act East | Announced by Modi in November 2014, with the aim of moving from looking to acting on connectivity, commerce and culture |
| Trade | The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement came into force in 2010, and India withdrew from RCEP negotiations in November 2019 |
What Are the Key Features of Act East?
- Three Cs: commerce, culture and connectivity, which together support strategic ties.
- Connectivity projects: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project linking Kolkata with Mizoram through Sittwe in Myanmar, and links to Bangladesh.
- North East: the region is treated as a gateway to Southeast Asia, and infrastructure and border trade there are linked with the policy.
- Security cooperation: naval exercises, defence sales such as the BrahMos missile to the Philippines, and cooperation with Vietnam and Singapore.
- Forums: ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation initiative, and BIMSTEC, which links South and Southeast Asia.
- Wider geography: beyond ASEAN, ties with Japan, South Korea, Australia and Pacific island states, as in India-Japan Relations: Special Strategic and Global Partnership, Bullet Train Project.
What Else Should You Remember?
- ASEAN centrality: India supports ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture, as in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India’s Dialogue Partnership.
- Founder of the policy: Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh linked the policy to economic reforms, and Rao spoke about it during his visit to Singapore in 1994.
- Mekong-Ganga Cooperation: a 2000 initiative of India and five Mekong countries on tourism, culture, education and transport.
- Challenges: delays in the Kaladan and Trilateral Highway projects, the instability in Myanmar, and a trade deficit with ASEAN.
- Review of FTA: India and ASEAN have been reviewing the Trade in Goods Agreement to address the deficit.
- China factor: China’s growing role in the region adds a strategic reason for India’s engagement.
- Link with Indo-Pacific: Act East is the eastern part of India’s Indo-Pacific approach, as in Shangri-La Dialogue, 1 June 2018 Principle Free, open, inclusive; ASEAN central IPOI Launched November 2019, seven pillars MEA…">Indo-Pacific Vision and Strategy.
- Culture and Buddhism: shared Buddhist and Hindu heritage in Southeast Asia is used for cultural ties, as in India’s Soft Power Diplomacy: Yoga, Ayurveda, Bollywood.
Why Does It Matter and What Are the Debates?
- Economic opportunity: Southeast Asia is a large market and part of supply chains, and the policy supports trade and investment.
- Strategic balance: closer ties with ASEAN, Japan and Australia help India to balance China.
- Regional development: links through Myanmar and Bangladesh can open the landlocked North East.
- Debates: some argue that India’s trade deficit and its withdrawal from RCEP show a gap between policy and results, while others see the decision as protecting domestic industry.
- Exam pattern: questions ask the dates, the founder of the policy, the difference between the two stages and connectivity projects.
As an analytical point, the change from Look East to Act East marks a shift from economic engagement to a strategic and security role. Delivery on projects is the main test.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Dates and projects asked
- Shift Engagement to action
- Gap Delivery and trade deficit
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Neighbourhood First Policy. Next topic: Neighbourhood First Policy.
Key People and Terms
- Look East 1991 policy of engagement with East
- Act East 2014 upgrade with action and connectivity
- ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- Kaladan project Kolkata-Sittwe-Mizoram transport link
- BIMSTEC Bay of Bengal grouping
- RCEP Regional trade pact India left in 2019
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Look East started 1991 to 1992 by Narasimha Rao.
- Act East announced November 2014.
- ASEAN full dialogue partner in 1996.
- Kaladan project via Sittwe.
- Left RCEP in 2019.
Do Not Confuse With
- Look East and Act East Engagement versus action and strategy
- ASEAN and BIMSTEC Southeast Asian group versus Bay of Bengal group
- Kaladan and Trilateral Highway River-sea-road link versus road link
Memory Hook
Ninety-one Rao looked east; twenty-fourteen Modi acts, with roads and trade and the northeast as the fact.
Mains Angle
Questions ask whether Act East has delivered. These points add depth.
- Shift Look to Act
- Tools Connectivity and defence
- Gaps Delays and deficit
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the evolution of the Look East Policy into the Act East Policy and assess its achievements.”
How to Answer
- Origin 1991 Look East.
- Shift 2014 Act East.
- Tools Projects, ASEAN.
- Gaps Delays, deficit.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who launched the Look East Policy?
The Look East Policy was launched in 1991 to 1992 under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, after India opened its economy following the 1991 balance of payments crisis. Its aim was to build economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asia and East Asia and to join the fast-growing economies of the region.
When was the Act East Policy announced?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Act East Policy at the East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in November 2014. It upgraded the Look East Policy with a focus on action, connectivity, commerce, culture and strategic cooperation, and gave a larger role to India's North East.
How is India linked with ASEAN?
India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1996 and a summit-level partner in 2002. The relationship became a strategic partnership in 2012 and a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022, and the ASEAN-India trade in goods agreement began in 2010.
What is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project?
The Kaladan project links Kolkata port with Sittwe port in Myanmar by sea, then by river to Paletwa and by road to Mizoram in India. It aims to give the North East another route and reduce dependence on the narrow Siliguri corridor, but it has faced delays.
Why did India leave RCEP?
India withdrew from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations in November 2019 because of concerns about a rising trade deficit, especially with China, inadequate protection for farmers and domestic industry, and the lack of safeguards against import surges. The decision remains debated in relation to Act East.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Look East Policy was launched under Narasimha Rao.
In 1991 to 1992.
2 The Act East Policy was announced in 2014.
At Nay Pyi Taw.
3 India joined RCEP in 2019.
India withdrew from the negotiations.
4 The Kaladan project links Kolkata with Sittwe in Myanmar.
And with Mizoram.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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