Non-traditional Security Challenges and India’s Foreign Policy: An Assessment

Non-traditional security threats to human life are as serious, probably more serious, than traditional military threats. Non-traditional security (NTS) threats do not stem from power rivalry between or among countries; they emerge from our environment and socio-economic milieu. Life threatening issues like climate change, food security, energy security, lethal diseases et al. are posing serious challenges to human well-being and survival in our times. The Covid 19 crisis is a recent example of how non-military threats are posing acute challenges to human well-being and survival. As a consequence, academic attention to the areas of NTS has been on the rise in recent times. We come across myriad academic papers and books on different aspects of NTS. However, recent writings on NTS mainly focused on the theoretical issues and debates surrounding the concept. They mostly hovered around the What and Why aspects of NTS. Without minimizing the seriousness of such discourses, it could be observed that India’s role vis-à-vis NTS in recent times has not been the major focus of writings on NTS, both in India and abroad. India embarked upon a huge supply of vaccines, medical and health equipment during the Covid 19 crisis. In fact, India, had emerged as a leading supplier of medicines in the world before the outbreak of the pandemic. India’s medical diplomacy before and during the Covid 19 pandemic earned international accolades. India has also earned a place in Medical Tourism in the world. India’s role in food security and protection of the environment are also commendable. While academics in India and other parts of the globe are aware of the roles of European countries, United States or Canada in the areas of NTS, India’s multifarious activities in the realm of NTS mostly went unnoticed in the academia. This chapter wishes to highlight NTS and India’s Diplomacy in recent times, an almost non-existent area in academic discourses. In that sense, this chapter may help to initiate discussions on India’s role in the sphere of NTS in recent times. Although the major focus of the chapter will be on India’s role vis-à-vis NTS, relevant theoretical issues will also be analysed in the chapter. The chapter will provide extensive ideas about the concept of non-traditional security; the challenges it poses to human survival; and the ways to face such challenges. India’s response and diplomacy on NTS challenges will be the principal focus of the chapter. The chapter will also provide a futuristic view about India’s role in the NTS areas. Therefore, the chapter will help in developing comprehensive ideas about non-traditional security threats and India’s role surrounding such threats today and in the future.