BharatNotes India as a Development Partner — Not a Donor
India's approach to development cooperation is fundamentally distinct from traditional Western donor models. India positions itself as a development partner — emphasising demand-driven, mutually beneficial cooperation rooted in the principles of South-South solidarity, with no conditionalities attached.
Key Principles of India's Development Partnership
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Demand-driven | Assistance provided based on the request and priorities of partner countries, not India's strategic agenda |
| No conditionalities | Unlike Western aid (which may require governance reforms, market liberalisation), Indian assistance does not impose political or economic conditions |
| Mutual benefit | Projects designed to build partner capacity while creating opportunities for Indian goods, services, and expertise |
| Respect for sovereignty | Non-interference in internal affairs of partner countries — rooted in Panchsheel principles |
| South-South solidarity | Framed as cooperation among developing nations sharing experiences, not a North-South charity model |
| Capacity building focus | Emphasis on transferring skills and building institutions rather than creating dependency |
For Mains: India consciously avoids the term "aid" or "donor" and instead uses "development partnership" and "development cooperation." This is not just semantic — it reflects a fundamentally different philosophy rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement tradition and the belief that developing countries can help each other grow without replicating colonial power dynamics.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme
Overview
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 15 September 1964, by decision of the Indian Cabinet |
| Administered by | Development Partnership Administration (DPA), Ministry of External Affairs |
| Countries covered | 161 partner countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean |
| Related programme | Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Programme (SCAAP) — runs in parallel |
| Cumulative expenditure | Over USD 2 billion since inception |
| Annual budget | Approximately USD 150 million in recent years |
Components of ITEC
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Training programmes | Nearly 10,000 fully funded in-person training slots annually through approximately 400 courses at 100+ institutes in India |
| Project assistance | Turnkey projects, feasibility studies, and consultancy services in partner countries |
| Deputation of experts | Indian specialists deployed to partner countries for capacity building |
| Study tours | Familiarisation visits for officials from partner countries |
| Disaster relief | Humanitarian aid and equipment provided during emergencies |
| e-ITEC | Online courses and digital capacity building (expanded significantly during COVID-19) |
Key Training Institutions Under ITEC
| Institution | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) | Governance and public administration |
| National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) | Financial management and audit |
| Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) | IT and digital technologies |
| Indian Institute of Technology (various) | Engineering and technology |
| Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) | Entrepreneurship and MSME development |
| National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) | Rural development and Panchayati Raj |
For Prelims: ITEC was established in 1964 and covers 161 partner countries. It is a demand-driven, response-oriented bilateral programme administered by the Development Partnership Administration (DPA) under the Ministry of External Affairs.
Impact and Reach
Over 60 years, ITEC has trained thousands of professionals from developing countries in areas ranging from IT and management to rural development and governance. Many ITEC alumni have gone on to hold senior positions including heads of state, cabinet ministers, and senior officials in their home countries.
Lines of Credit (LOCs) — Exim Bank
Overview
Lines of Credit (LOCs) are a key instrument of India's development partnership, extended through the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on the direction of the Government of India.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | Government of India provides interest equalisation support to Exim Bank; Exim Bank extends concessional credit to partner country governments or institutions |
| Total LOCs extended | Over 306 LOCs cumulatively exceeding USD 31 billion (as of 2022) to 65 countries |
| Concessional terms | Interest rates below market rates; long repayment periods (typically 20 years with 5-year moratorium) |
| Tied component | LOC projects typically require 75% procurement from India — promoting Indian exports |
Regional Distribution of LOCs
| Region | Cumulative LOCs (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Asia | USD 16.9 billion |
| Africa | USD 11.4 billion |
| Latin America and Caribbean | USD 1.5 billion |
| Oceania/Pacific Islands | USD 0.8 billion |
| Other regions | USD 0.4 billion |
Types of Projects Funded
| Sector | Examples |
|---|---|
| Power and energy | Solar parks, hydroelectric projects, transmission lines |
| Transport | Railways (e.g., India-funded railway in Nepal), roads, ports |
| Water and sanitation | Water treatment plants, irrigation systems |
| Agriculture | Sugar mills, farm mechanisation, food processing |
| IT and telecom | Fibre-optic networks, e-governance systems |
| Healthcare | Hospitals, medical equipment, pharmaceutical plants |
| Education | Universities, vocational training centres |
For Mains: LOCs serve a dual purpose — they provide development finance to partner countries while simultaneously creating markets for Indian goods and services. The 75% Indian procurement requirement means these are not pure aid but a form of tied credit that benefits Indian industry. Critics argue this makes them more trade instruments than development tools; supporters counter that this ensures sustainability and Indian expertise in implementation.
India's Development Partnership Administration (DPA)
The DPA was established in January 2012 within the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate India's development cooperation more effectively.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | January 2012 |
| Under | Ministry of External Affairs |
| Function | Centralised coordination of development partnership programmes — LOCs, grant projects, ITEC, capacity building |
| Head | Additional Secretary-level officer |
| Rationale | Previously, development cooperation was scattered across multiple ministries — DPA brought coherence |
South-South Cooperation
India's Role in South-South Cooperation
India is one of the world's largest providers of South-South cooperation. The concept is rooted in the principle that developing countries can share knowledge, resources, and technology among themselves.
| Framework | India's Contribution |
|---|---|
| Bandung Conference (1955) | India was a founding participant — established the principle of Afro-Asian solidarity |
| Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) | India was a co-founder; NAM principles underpin India's development cooperation |
| G77 | India is an active member of the Group of 77 — the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing states |
| BAPA+40 (2019) | Second High-Level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation; India affirmed commitment to mutual development |
| UN South-South cooperation | India contributes to the UN Fund for South-South Cooperation |
India-Africa Partnership
| Initiative | Detail |
|---|---|
| India-Africa Forum Summit | Three summits held (2008, 2011, 2015) — framework for comprehensive engagement |
| LOCs to Africa | USD 11.4 billion in lines of credit — largest regional share of India's LOCs |
| ITEC in Africa | Thousands of African professionals trained annually under ITEC and SCAAP |
| Pan-Africa e-Network | Tele-education and telemedicine connecting Indian universities and hospitals with African institutions — subsequently upgraded to e-VidyaBharati and e-ArogyaBharati (e-VBAB) |
| 50,000 scholarships | India committed 50,000 scholarships for African students at the 2015 IAFS-III summit |
| Duty-free access | India provides duty-free tariff preference (DFTP) to 33 Least Developed Countries, including many in Africa |
India-ASEAN Development Partnership
| Area | Cooperation |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway; Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project |
| Capacity building | ASEAN-India centres for heritage, biodiversity, and traditional medicine |
| ITEC | Dedicated ASEAN-India training programmes |
| Maritime | Cooperation in disaster management, maritime safety, and blue economy |
India and Pacific Island Countries
| Initiative | Detail |
|---|---|
| FIPIC | Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation — two summits held (2014 Fiji, 2015 Jaipur); third summit held in 2023 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
| Climate financing | India committed USD 1 million to each Pacific Island country for climate adaptation |
| Solar projects | Installation of solar panels and equipment through ISA framework |
| Capacity building | Training programmes, scholarships, and technical assistance |
Vaccine Maitri — COVID-19 Diplomacy
Overview
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 20 January 2021 |
| Name meaning | "Vaccine Friendship" |
| Vaccines supplied | Primarily Covishield (Serum Institute of India's AstraZeneca version) and Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) |
| First recipients | Bhutan and Maldives (as grants) — followed by Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Seychelles |
| Total doses supplied | Over 72 million doses to 94 countries and 2 UN entities by November 2021 |
| Modalities | Grants (free supply), commercial export, and COVAX facility contributions |
Strategic Significance
| Dimension | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood first | Priority to immediate neighbours (Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar) reinforced India's neighbourhood-first policy |
| Counter to China | India's vaccine diplomacy was partly in response to China's aggressive vaccine diplomacy in South Asia and Africa |
| Pharmacy of the world | Showcased India's pharmaceutical manufacturing capability (Serum Institute produced over 1.5 billion Covishield doses) |
| Goodwill generation | Created massive goodwill in recipient countries, particularly small island nations |
| Limitations | Programme was scaled back after India's devastating second COVID wave (April-May 2021) as domestic demand surged |
For Mains: Vaccine Maitri demonstrated both the potential and the limits of India's development diplomacy. While it generated enormous goodwill, the programme had to be paused during India's second wave, exposing the tension between domestic needs and international commitments. Countries that had relied on Indian supplies faced shortages, and some turned to China and Russia.
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
India's HADR Philosophy
India has emerged as a "first responder" in its neighbourhood and beyond, deploying military assets (Indian Navy, Air Force), NDRF teams, and medical personnel during natural disasters and conflicts.
Key HADR Operations
| Operation | Year | Context | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Dost | 2023 | Turkey-Syria earthquakes (magnitude 7.8, February 2023) | NDRF teams, IAF C-17 aircraft with 47 NDRF personnel, dog squads, medical equipment, drones for search and rescue |
| Operation Kaveri | 2023 | Sudan civil conflict evacuation | Indian Navy warships and IAF airlifts evacuated over 3,800 Indians and 1,200 foreign nationals |
| Operation Devi Shakti | 2021 | Afghanistan evacuation after Taliban takeover | Evacuation of Indian nationals and Afghan partners |
| Operation Vanilla | 2020 | Cyclone Diane, Madagascar | INS Airavat deployed for flood relief |
| Operation Sahayata | 2017 | Cyclone Mora, Bangladesh; also used for various relief operations | Indian Navy provided relief supplies |
| Operation Maitri | 2015 | Nepal earthquake (magnitude 7.8) | Largest HADR operation — 39 aircraft, 16 helicopters, over 1,000 tonnes of relief, multiple NDRF teams |
| Operation Rahat | 2015 | Yemen crisis evacuation | Indian Navy evacuated 4,640 Indians and over 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries |
HADR Capability
| Asset | Role |
|---|---|
| Indian Navy | Largest HADR platform — amphibious ships, helicopter carriers for rapid deployment |
| Indian Air Force | C-17 Globemaster III and IL-76 for heavy airlift; C-130J for tactical airlift |
| NDRF | Specialised disaster response teams trained for search and rescue, including in collapsed structures |
| ICMR and medical teams | Field hospitals, surgical teams, epidemiological support |
For Prelims: Operation Dost (2023) was India's HADR response to the Turkey-Syria earthquakes. Operation Kaveri (2023) was the evacuation of Indians and foreign nationals from Sudan during its civil conflict.
Indian Diaspora Engagement
Scale of the Indian Diaspora
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total overseas Indians | Approximately 35.4 million (as per MEA, 2024) |
| NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) | 15.85 million — Indian citizens living abroad |
| PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) | 19.57 million — foreign citizens of Indian descent |
| World's largest diaspora | India has the largest overseas diaspora globally |
| Annual emigration | Approximately 2.5 million Indians emigrate each year |
| Remittances | USD 118.7 billion in FY 2023-24 (RBI survey) — India is the world's largest recipient of remittances; rose to USD 129.4 billion in FY 2024-25 |
Top Diaspora Destinations
| Country | Approximate Indian-Origin Population |
|---|---|
| United States | 5 million+ |
| United Arab Emirates | 4.4 million |
| Saudi Arabia | 2.6 million |
| United Kingdom | 1.8 million |
| Canada | 1.8 million |
| Kuwait | 1 million |
| Oman | 0.8 million |
Diaspora Engagement Programmes
| Programme | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) | Celebrated on 9 January (marking Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa in 1915); major event for diaspora engagement |
| Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) | Lifelong visa and near-citizen rights (except voting and holding constitutional offices) for PIOs |
| Know India Programme | 3-week orientation programme for diaspora youth (18-30 years) to connect with their roots |
| VAJRA scheme | Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty — enables overseas Indian scientists to work in Indian institutions |
| Indian Community Welfare Fund | Emergency financial assistance for distressed Indian workers abroad |
| e-Migrate | Online system to regulate and protect the emigration of Indian workers to ECR countries |
Diaspora as Development Partners
| Area | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Remittances | USD 118.7 billion (FY 2023-24) — approximately 3.5% of GDP; funds rural development, education, healthcare |
| FDI | Significant share of India's FDI from diaspora-linked investments |
| Knowledge transfer | Return migration of skilled professionals (reverse brain drain) — particularly in IT, medicine, academia |
| Philanthropy | Diaspora foundations support education, health, and cultural institutions in India |
| Soft power | Diaspora communities serve as cultural ambassadors, promoting Indian cuisine, yoga, Bollywood globally |
International Solar Alliance (ISA)
Overview
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 30 November 2015, at COP21 in Paris, by India and France |
| Treaty-based | ISA Framework Agreement is a legally binding international treaty |
| Headquarters | Gurugram, Haryana (at National Institute of Solar Energy campus) |
| Members | 107 countries have signed and ratified as of October 2025 |
| Eligibility | All UN member states (after 2020 amendment — originally limited to countries between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) |
| President | India (2024-2026 term); Co-president: France |
| Mission | Unlock USD 1 trillion in solar investment by 2030 |
ISA Programmes
| Programme | Objective |
|---|---|
| One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) | Interconnected trans-national solar power grid concept |
| Solar Technology Application Resource Centres | Decentralised solar innovation hubs in member countries |
| Affordable Finance at Scale | De-risking solar investments in developing countries |
| Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use | Solar pumps, cold chains, and agri-processing |
| Scaling Solar E-Mobility and Storage | Electric vehicle charging infrastructure using solar energy |
For Mains: ISA is India's most significant contribution to global climate governance. It is one of the few international organisations headquartered in India and was jointly launched by India and France. It demonstrates India's ability to lead multilateral initiatives on issues of global concern, moving India from rule-taker to rule-maker in international climate diplomacy.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 23 September 2019, by PM Modi at the UN Climate Action Summit |
| Founding members | 12 — Australia, Bhutan, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, UK |
| Headquarters | New Delhi (interim secretariat at NDMA) |
| India's financial support | Rs 480 crore towards the CDRI corpus |
| Focus | Promoting resilience of infrastructure systems (transport, telecom, energy, water) to climate and disaster risks |
| Recognition | Categorised as an "International Organisation" by the Indian Cabinet in 2022 |
India's Contributions to UN Peacekeeping
Historical Record
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Missions participated | Over 49 UN peacekeeping missions since 1950 |
| Total personnel contributed | Approximately 287,000 troops over seven decades |
| Current deployment (June 2025) | 5,387 uniformed personnel across multiple missions |
| Global ranking | 4th largest troop contributor (after Nepal, Rwanda, Bangladesh) as of June 2025 |
| Casualties | Over 175 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives in UN service |
| Women peacekeepers | Over 150 women personnel serving across 6 missions (as of February 2025) |
Notable Peacekeeping Contributions
| Mission/Event | Significance |
|---|---|
| Korea (1950s) | India's 60th Parachute Field Ambulance served in Korea — India's first UN peacekeeping contribution |
| Congo (ONUC, 1960-64) | Major Indian involvement; Brigadier Rikhye served as Military Adviser to the UN Secretary-General |
| UNIFIL (Lebanon) | One of India's longest-running deployments; Indian engineers maintain critical infrastructure |
| UNMISS (South Sudan) | India's largest current deployment; engineering, medical, and infantry battalions |
| MONUSCO (DR Congo) | Indian troops in force protection and support roles |
| Female Formed Police Unit (Liberia, 2007) | India deployed the first-ever all-female Formed Police Unit to a UN mission — 105 women from the CRPF |
For Prelims: India is among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping, having participated in over 49 missions and contributed approximately 287,000 troops. India deployed the first all-female Formed Police Unit to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2007.
Emerging Areas in India's Development Diplomacy
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Export
| Initiative | Detail |
|---|---|
| India Stack | UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker — offered as a model for developing countries |
| UPI internationalisation | UPI linkages with Singapore (PayNow), UAE, France, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Nepal |
| CoWIN platform | India offered its COVID vaccination management platform as open-source technology |
| G20 DPI initiative | During India's G20 Presidency (2023), India championed the One Future Alliance for digital public infrastructure |
Climate Finance and South-South Cooperation
| Area | India's Role |
|---|---|
| ISA | Mobilising solar investment in developing countries |
| CDRI | Building climate-resilient infrastructure capacity |
| Adaptation finance | India advocates for scaled-up adaptation finance for developing countries at UNFCCC COPs |
| Loss and Damage Fund | India supported the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 (2022) |
Key Terms for UPSC
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ITEC | Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation — India's flagship bilateral development cooperation programme since 1964 |
| DPA | Development Partnership Administration — MEA division coordinating India's development cooperation since 2012 |
| LOC | Line of Credit — concessional credit extended through Exim Bank for development projects in partner countries |
| South-South cooperation | Development cooperation among developing countries, based on solidarity and mutual benefit |
| Vaccine Maitri | India's COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy initiative (2021) — supplied over 72 million doses to 94 countries |
| HADR | Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief — India's military and civilian response to international disasters |
| ISA | International Solar Alliance — India-France initiated treaty organisation headquartered in Gurugram |
| CDRI | Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure — India-led global coalition launched in 2019 |
| OCI | Overseas Citizenship of India — quasi-citizenship status for PIOs enabling lifelong visa and near-citizen rights |
| PBD | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas — annual celebration of India's diaspora engagement |
Recent Developments (2024–2026)
India's Humanitarian Response — Gaza and Global Crises (2024–2025)
India provided humanitarian assistance to Gaza through Jordan in 2024–25, including medicines, food, and medical equipment, channelled through the Red Cross (ICRC) and UNRWA. India also despatched humanitarian aid to Libya (floods, September 2023), Morocco (earthquake, September 2023), and Nepal (earthquake, November 2023) — all within 24 hours of requests, demonstrating the "First Responder" role under HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) doctrine.
India's stance on Gaza balanced humanitarian assistance with diplomatic abstentions on UN resolutions, reflecting the complexity of India's Israel-Arab world positioning. The USD 5 million pledged to UNRWA (2024) was notable given broader debates about UNRWA funding.
UPSC angle: India as First Responder in regional HADR (Operation Maitri — Nepal 2015, Operation Samudra Setu — Sri Lanka/COVID, Operation Ganga — Ukraine), and the 2024 Gaza humanitarian response. HADR as development diplomacy instrument.
Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) — India's Multilateral Platform (2023 Onwards)
The Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), launched under India's G20 Presidency in September 2023, expanded to 24 member countries and 12 international organisations by mid-2024. The GBA is designed to accelerate the adoption of sustainable biofuels — particularly sugarcane ethanol, agricultural residue ethanol, and compressed biogas — as part of the clean energy transition. India's domestic ethanol blending programme (20% by 2025-26) serves as a proof-of-concept for GBA partner countries.
UPSC angle: GBA — launched India G20 2023, expanded to 24 countries by 2024, India's 20% ethanol blending as domestic credibility for GBA. Connects development diplomacy with climate and energy policy.
Vaccine Maitri — Legacy and New Directions (2024)
India's Vaccine Maitri initiative (2021) supplied over 72 million doses to 94 countries (by November 2021) under grants and COVAX, with total COVID-19 vaccine exports (including commercial) reaching over 235 million doses to 98 countries by mid-2022, establishing India's reputation as the "Pharmacy of the World." In 2024, India extended this pharmaceutical diplomacy through: supplying mpox (monkeypox) vaccines to African countries through the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC); participating in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) for pandemic preparedness; and continuing to supply generic medicines to 150+ countries as part of South-South health cooperation.
UPSC angle: India as "Pharmacy of the World" — Vaccine Maitri: 72 million doses to 94 countries (grant + COVAX, by November 2021); total COVID vaccine exports ~235 million to 98 countries; mpox vaccine supply to Africa; generic medicines to 150+ countries. Connects to the WTO TRIPS waiver debate India championed.
India's Lines of Credit — Scaling Up for Global South (2024–2025)
India's Exim Bank Lines of Credit (LoC) programme disbursed approximately USD 30 billion across 62 countries between 2003 and 2024. In 2024, India signed new LoCs with several African, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Island countries for solar energy, railway infrastructure, and digital connectivity projects. The Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS), which operates through Exim Bank LoCs, remains India's primary mechanism for concessional development finance — offering more favourable terms than commercial loans while requiring capacity building, Indian equipment procurement, and Indian contractor involvement.
UPSC angle: India Exim Bank LoC — USD 30 billion, 62 countries; IDEAS scheme; comparison with China's BRI (no conditionalities claim vs. India's procurement requirements) — standard development diplomacy analytical theme.
India and Global South — Voice of the South Initiative (2024)
India hosted the "Voice of Global South Summit" (virtual) in January 2023 (110+ countries) and January 2024 — reinforcing India's claim to speak for developing nations. India used the platform to identify common priorities: debt restructuring, climate finance, digital infrastructure, health access, and food security. The outcomes fed directly into India's G20 New Delhi Summit agenda (September 2023) and Brazil's G20 presidency agenda (2024), demonstrating India's role as a convener for Global South positions.
UPSC angle: Voice of Global South Summit (January 2023 and 2024), India as Global South convener, and the link to G20 advocacy are important for Mains development diplomacy and multilateral engagement questions.
Exam Strategy
Prelims Focus: ITEC establishment year and coverage, LOC mechanism, ISA founding details and headquarters, CDRI founding details, Vaccine Maitri facts, key HADR operations and their contexts, UN peacekeeping statistics, OCI provisions.
Mains Connections: Link India's development diplomacy to its foreign policy objectives (GS2). Connect Vaccine Maitri to India's pharmaceutical capability and soft power. Relate HADR operations to India's regional power aspirations. Discuss how ISA and CDRI position India as a leader in multilateral climate governance.
Essay Potential: "From aid recipient to development partner — India's journey in international cooperation" covering the arc from being a recipient of foreign aid (1950s-90s) to becoming a major provider of development assistance.
