BALANCING ASPIRATIONS AND REALITIES: INDIA’S SOUTH ASIA POLICY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

This paper explores India’s evolving foreign policy towards South Asia in the 21st century, with a particular focus on balancing the country’s strategic aspirations with the geopoliti-cal and economic realities it faces. India has long sought to assert itself as a regional lead-er in South Asia, with aspirations to enhance its security, economic influence, and diplomat-ic standing. However, its ambitions are consistently challenged by internal and external fac-tors, including territorial disputes, the rise of China, regional political rivalries, and the changing dynamics of global power. The primary objective of this study is to examine how India navigates these competing aspi-rations and realities in its South Asia policy, particularly since the turn of the 21st century. The study seeks to answer several key research questions: How has India’s foreign policy towards its South Asian neighbours evolved in the face of new geopolitical challenges? What are the primary drivers behind India’s regional strategy, and how does it balance eco-nomic cooperation with security concerns? How do India’s relationships with its neigh-bours, such as Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, reflect broader regional dynam-ics? The paper employs a qualitative methodological approach, drawing upon an analysis of both primary and secondary sources, including government documents, academic literature, and reports from regional think tanks. It also includes critical analysis of India’s relations with South Asian countries to illustrate the practical application of its foreign policy strate-gies. The study finds that while India’s regional aspirations remain strong, the country’s policy is often constrained by the complex realities of a fragmented South Asian region. India’s re-gional policy has adapted to include pragmatic diplomacy, economic partnerships, and se-curity arrangements, but challenges such as the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict and Chi-na's growing influence remain central to its strategy. The paper concludes by offering rec-ommendations for India to better align its aspirations with the evolving regional and global context, focusing on strengthening multilateral cooperation and regional trust-building