Why did India choose not to align with the military alliances led by the US and the Soviet Union?

India aimed to maintain neutrality and avoid taking sides.

The foreign policy of post-independence India fervently pursued the aspiration of a peaceful global environment. This endeavour was realized through the advocacy of non-alignment, endeavours to ease Cold War tensions, and active contributions to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping endeavours. The query might arise: why did India abstain from affiliating with either of the two opposing camps during the Cold War era? The reason was India's inclination to steer clear of the military alliances spearheaded by the United States and the Soviet Union, who were in opposition to each other.

India championed non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy stance. Balancing this approach posed challenges, leading to instances where the equilibrium seemed less than ideal. For instance, in 1956, when Britain's actions targeted Egypt regarding the Suez Canal dispute, India assumed a leadership role in global protests against this neo-colonial intervention. However, in the same year, when the USSR's actions involved Hungary, India refrained from publicly condemning the situation.