According to the passage, India's concept of strategic autonomy primarily allows it to:

Question

Passage for Questions (76-80)

In the evolving architecture of global power, the multi-polar world represents a decisive shift from the unipolar dominance of the post-Cold War era toward a more distributed balance of influence. Within this dynamic configuration, India occupies a uniquely strategic position. No longer content to be a passive observer, India aspires to function as a balancing power — bridging the ideological divide between established Western democracies and emerging non-Western coalitions. Its foreign policy reflects a nuanced pragmatism, rooted in the tradition of non-alignment yet reinterpreted through the lens of 21st-century realpolitik.

India's approach to global diplomacy emphasizes strategic autonomy, which allows it to engage with multiple power blocs without being constrained by rigid alliances. This flexibility enables India to participate in platforms such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the BRICS alliance, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) simultaneously. Rather than aligning itself permanently with any single camp, India seeks to safeguard its national interests while contributing to a more equitable international order.

However, India's role in a multi-polar world is not without challenges. It must navigate competing expectations from major powers, manage complex regional dynamics, and address domestic vulnerabilities that influence its external posture. Furthermore, India's pursuit of strategic influence is often tested by global issues such as climate change, energy security, and technological dependency. Balancing moral diplomacy with economic pragmatism remains a delicate task.

Ultimately, India's vision for the multi-polar world is neither confrontational nor subordinate. It seeks a redefinition of global governance based on inclusivity, sovereignty, and mutual respect. In this framework, power is not the monopoly of a few nations but a shared responsibility shaped by cooperation, dialogue, and the collective pursuit of stability.

According to the passage, India's concept of strategic autonomy primarily allows it to:

1. A. Isolate itself from all major global alliances.
2. B. Maintain flexibility by engaging with multiple power blocs. (Correct answer)
3. C. Fully align with Western democracies for security guarantees.
4. D. Avoid participation in regional organizations altogether.

Correct Answer

Option B — Maintain flexibility by engaging with multiple power blocs.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Maintain flexibility by engaging with multiple power blocs..

Key Points

• The passage defines the term directly: strategic autonomy *allows it to engage with multiple power blocs without being constrained by rigid alliances*.
• The stated benefit is therefore flexibility, not detachment.
• The named platforms — the Quad, BRICS and the SCO — are given as evidence that India participates in several groupings at once.

Additional Information

• Option A (isolation) is the opposite of engaging with multiple blocs.
• Option C contradicts the text, which says India avoids *aligning itself permanently with any single camp*.
• Option D is refuted by the explicit reference to regional and plurilateral organisations.
• Note the significance of the three groupings named: the Quad leans Western, BRICS and the SCO do not — which is exactly the point the passage is making.

*Ministry of Papers worked solution. The Commission has not yet published the official key for this paper; this answer will be reconciled with it on release.*