Studying India's foreign policy involves understanding the multifaceted nature of its international relations, historical experiences, domestic influences, and strategic choices. Over the decades, scholars have developed several approaches to analyze India's foreign policy, each highlighting different dimensions, ranging from theoretical frameworks to historical and practical perspectives. Among the key approaches, realist, liberal, and constructivist perspectives provide broad theoretical frameworks, while civilizational, strategic, and bureaucratic approaches offer more India-centric insights. The realist approach focuses on power, national interest, and the pursuit of security. From this perspective, India’s foreign policy is primarily shaped by the anarchic international system, regional threats, and the need to maintain sovereignty. Realists argue that India’s strategic behavior, including its nuclear policy, defense modernization, and relations with major powers like the United States, Russia, and China, reflects a desire to balance power and secure its national interests. India’s cautious stance in international conflicts, preference for strategic autonomy, and emphasis on self-reliance in defense can be understood through this lens. For instance, India’s response to the Sino-Indian border clashes or its position in the United Nations Security Council debates reflects realist calculations prioritizing national security over ideological or moral considerations. In contrast, the liberal approach emphasizes the role of international institutions, cooperation, and interdependence. Liberals highlight India’s participation in global forums like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, BRICS, and the G20 as evidence of its commitment to multilateralism and the promotion of global governance norms. India’s foreign policy is seen as a combination of promoting democratic values, economic interests, and conflict resolution through dialogue. Initiatives such as India’s Act East Policy, engagement with ASEAN, and pursuit of regional trade agreements underscore a liberal understanding that international cooperation can enhance economic development and security. This approach also emphasizes India’s soft power, including cultural diplomacy, international development assistance, and leadership in climate change negotiations. The constructivist approach brings attention to the role of identity, ideas, and norms in shaping India’s foreign policy. From this perspective, India’s self-image as a pluralistic democracy, a leader of the Global South, and a responsible nuclear power informs its diplomatic choices. Constructivists argue that historical experiences, civilizational identity, and normative commitments influence India’s external behavior. For example, India’s non-alignment during the Cold War was not merely a strategic decision but also a reflection of its postcolonial identity and desire to lead newly independent nations. Similarly, India’s emphasis on human rights, democracy promotion, and climate commitments demonstrates how normative frameworks guide foreign policy decisions alongside strategic calculations. A historical approach is particularly relevant to India because its foreign policy is deeply rooted in its colonial past, post-independence priorities, and regional environment. This approach examines how historical events, such as British colonialism, Partition, the wars with Pakistan and China, and India’s non-alignment legacy, shape