India's Foreign Policy under the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047: The Quest for Global Leadership

The vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 seeks to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence. While the discourse surrounding this vision has largely focused on domestic economic growth, governance reforms, technological innovation, and social development, its external dimension remains equally significant. This paper examines the evolving nature of India’s foreign policy in the context of Viksit Bharat 2047 and argues that India’s diplomatic strategy is increasingly becoming development-oriented, integrating economic growth, technological advancement, strategic security, and global influence within a coherent framework of national transformation. Drawing upon theories of strategic autonomy, developmental statecraft, and emerging power diplomacy, the study analyzes India’s engagement with major powers, the Global South, multilateral institutions, and regional organizations. It argues that contemporary Indian foreign policy represents a transition from a reactive and security-centric approach toward a multidimensional model of developmental diplomacy aimed at creating favorable international conditions for domestic modernization. The paper further contends that India’s aspiration to become a developed country by 2047 is inseparable from its ambition to emerge as a leading power in the evolving multipolar international order. However, challenges such as geopolitical rivalries, technological dependence, climate vulnerabilities, regional instability, and institutional constraints continue to shape India’s strategic choices. Through qualitative analysis of policy documents, academic literature, and contemporary developments, the study concludes that the success of Viksit Bharat 2047 depends upon India’s ability to effectively integrate domestic developmental priorities with a flexible, adaptive, and forward-looking foreign policy. Such a strategy has the potential not only to enhance India’s national capabilities but also to position it as a key architect of the twenty-first-century international order.