What is India’s policy of Non-alignment?

One of the fundamental principles of India’s foreign policy is to keep clear of Power blocs.

In fact, in foreign policy India wants to be able to determine her foreign policy as independently of external pressure as is possible in the interdependent world.

The characteristic features of India’s policy of non-alignment are as follows:

(1) The Indian foreign policy aims at maintaining her freedom of political scheme.

India wants to be able to determine her own foreign policy.

(2) Another feature of India’s policy of no alignment is to stand apart from the two great rival camps of the contemporary world.

(3) Not to folio a policy of neutrality in international affairs.

(4) India did not refuse to take sides as a matter of principle. India merely refuses to do so when there is nothing thereby to be gained.