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India's foreign policy evolved with 1991 economic reforms: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India's approach to international relations had to adapt following the country's economic liberalisation in 1991. He made the remarks at the launch of former Finance Commission chairman Nand Kishore Singh's book in New Delhi.

LSN India · 29 October 2026

India's foreign policy evolved with 1991 economic reforms: Jaishankar

India's foreign policy framework underwent a fundamental shift to align with the nation's changing geopolitical interests after the 1991 economic reforms, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

Addressing the book launch event in the capital, Jaishankar highlighted how the opening up of India's economy necessitated a corresponding evolution in New Delhi's international engagement strategy. The transformation reflected India's emergence as a growing economic power with expanded strategic considerations on the global stage.

The minister's remarks came during the release of a book by Nand Kishore Singh, former chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission. The event underscored the interconnectedness between India's domestic economic policies and its external relations framework.

The 1991 reforms marked a watershed moment in India's economic history, transitioning the country from a largely closed economy to one increasingly integrated with global markets. Jaishankar's comments suggest that this economic restructuring required corresponding adjustments in how India positioned itself internationally and pursued its diplomatic objectives.

The relationship between India's economic trajectory and foreign policy positioning remains a key theme in contemporary Indian political discourse, particularly as the country navigates evolving regional and global dynamics.