2018 · GS Paper 2 · Q9 · 10 marks
"India's relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back." Discuss.
In short
India-Israel ties have acquired a depth across defence, agriculture, water, technology and connectivity that is unlikely to be rolled back, though India calibrates its tone over Gaza. The co-developed Barak-8 air-defence system and the 2026 Special Strategic Partnership show this depth.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 290 words
Defence core
DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries co-develop the Barak-8 (MRSAM) system, and Adani-Elbit builds Hermes 900 drones in Hyderabad.
Agriculture and water
More than 30 Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence spread drip irrigation, and the I4F fund (2017) backs joint agritech and water ventures.
Strategic connectivity
I2U2 (2022), the Adani Group's Haifa Port purchase (2023) and the IMEC plan tie Israel into India's West Asia strategy.
Economy and people
A 2023 labour agreement sent Indian workers to Israel, an investment agreement followed in 2025, and ties became a Special Strategic Partnership in 2026.
De-hyphenation
Modi's separate Ramallah visit (2018) showed that ties with Israel no longer hinge on Palestine.
Trust in crisis
Israeli supplies in Kargil (1999) built lasting trust in India's security establishment.
Calibrated support
After 7 October 2023, India condemned terror yet voted for a UNGA ceasefire resolution in December 2023.
Gulf equities
Some 9 million Indians in the Gulf and ties with Iran require balance.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.