Parliamentary Panel Urges Formalization of India's Foreign Policy

The parliamentary panel on external affairs recommends the urgent creation of a strategic document outlining India’s foreign policy objectives. Citing its absence as a 'significant gap,' the report insists on prioritizing the Overseas Mobility Bill and stresses the need for a comprehensive, publicly available foreign policy document.

A parliamentary panel on external affairs has emphasized the need for an urgent strategic document to clearly frame India's foreign policy goals. According to the panel's report, the absence of such a document is a 'significant gap' for a nation of India's stature and increasing international interactions.

The committee, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, outlined the necessity of this document in the 'Twelfth Report of the Committee on External Affairs (2025-26) on Demands for Grants (2026-27).' This includes recommendations for formalizing foreign policy, considering budgetary allocations, and addressing pending legislation like the Overseas Mobility Bill.

The report also compares India's current state to countries that have robust formal foreign policy or national security strategy documents. The panel insists that the Ministry of External Affairs prioritize this effort, viewing it as crucial for India's expanding global engagement and directing the Planning Policy & Research Division to undertake this task promptly.

(With inputs from agencies.)