FROM NON-ALIGNMENT TO INDO-PACIFIC ENGAGEMENT: INDIA'S EVOLVING STRATEGIC IDENTITY AND REGIONAL ROLE

India’s strategic identity has evolved significantly since independence, transitioning from the moral-idealist foundations of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to a pragmatic and multi-aligned posture in the contemporary Indo-Pacific. This paper analyses India’s gradual shift from the pursuit of non-alignment to proactive engagement in regional and minilateral frameworks such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP) vision. It argues that this transformation does not mark a departure from India’s traditional commitment to strategic autonomy but reflects an adaptive recalibration to new geopolitical realities shaped by China’s rise, maritime competition, and a multipolar order. By integrating historical continuities with emerging strategic imperatives, the study highlights how India’s Indo-Pacific engagement demonstrates the evolution of its strategic culture—balancing autonomy with alignment. The paper concludes by identifying enduring constraints and opportunities in India’s Indo-Pacific trajectory, offering insights into how emerging powers redefine their strategic identities amid systemic transitions.