Q2.The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised Nations has disappeared on account of its newfound role in the emerging global order. Elaborate.

India has historically championed the oppressed and marginalized, embodying the Global South's spirit. The assertion that this image has disappeared due to its evolving role in the contemporary global order requires elaboration.

India's Traditional Role: Champion of the Global South

Historically, India led decolonization, anti-apartheid, and South-South cooperation. Its Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) leadership offered a moral compass for newly independent states, advocating sovereignty, peace, and equitable global governance against Cold War blocs.

India's Evolving Role in the Emerging Global Order

The current global order features multipolarity, economic interdependence, and strategic competition. India's foreign policy now emphasizes pragmatic engagement with major powers, pursuing national interests, and maintaining strategic autonomy, evident in forums like Quad and G20.

Analysis: Disappearance or Evolution?

Arguments for 'Disappearance'

• Increased focus on economic growth and domestic development over ideological leadership.
• Strategic partnerships with developed nations for security and technology.
• Balancing acts in geopolitical rivalries, sometimes perceived as diluting 'Third World' solidarity.

Arguments Against 'Disappearance'

• Continued advocacy for climate justice, WTO reforms, and equitable global financial architecture.
• Initiatives like Vaccine Maitri and calls for debt relief for developing nations.
• Active role in South-South cooperation and promoting sustainable development goals.

India's image has not disappeared but evolved. While pragmatic national interests guide its foreign policy, India continues to champion the Global South's concerns, adopting a more complex, multi-faceted role as a responsible global player with strategic autonomy.