India’s policy of non-alignment advocated for which of the following?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Not aligning with any of the power-blocs.

Option (1) Non-independence in the international engagements. — Incorrect. Non-alignment meant the opposite: India took an independent stand on international issues.

Option (2) Consolidating relations only with neighboring countries. — Incorrect. Non-alignment is about the two Cold War camps, not about how far a partner country lies. Staying out of both blocs did not limit India to its neighbours: it got aid and assistance from members of both the blocs and worked with countries across Asia and Africa.

Option (3) Not aligning with any of the power-blocs. — Correct. India wanted to keep away from the military alliances led by the US and the Soviet Union against each other, and advocated non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy approach.

Option (4) Maintaining proximity to Russia and distance from US. — Incorrect. Leaning towards one superpower would be alignment with its bloc. Non-alignment meant keeping away from both camps, the US-led NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact, while being friendly to both.

NCERT (2025-26): “Distance from two camps … The foreign policy of independent India vigorously pursued the dream of a peaceful world by advocating the policy of non-alignment, by reducing Cold War tensions and by contributing human resources to the UN peacekeeping operations. You might ask why India did not join either of the two camps during the Cold War era. India wanted to keep away from the military alliances led by US and Soviet Union against each other. During the Cold War, the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact came into existence. India advocated non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy approach. This was a difficult balancing act and sometimes the balance did not appear perfect. In 1956 when Britain attacked Egypt over the Suez Canal issue, India led the world protest against this neo-colonial invasion. But in the same year when the USSR invaded Hungary, India did not join its public condemnation. Despite such a situation, by and large India did take an independent stand on various international issues and could get aid and assistance from members of both the blocs.…”