Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: The Role of India's Soft Power Amid the Covid Era

As a new arena of diplomacy, Indian diplomats and foreign policymakers have begun to understand and develop India's diplomatic initiatives in the health sector. Emerging global health challenges encompass a spectrum of issues, ranging from infectious and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to concerns such as bioterrorism, dual-use research, inadequate health system fortification, and pivotal social determinants of health, notably food security. India strategically leverages foreign aid as a diplomatic instrument, fostering enduring collaborations with numerous developing and underdeveloped nations. This paper will highlight how India grew its relationship with other countries with the help of soft power diplomacy and humanitarian aid programmes. This study scrutinizes India's health diplomacy amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting it with the predominantly self-centered strategies adopted by Western nations. It elucidates India assuming a benevolent role akin to a "big brother" amidst the prevailing global crisis.