2020 · GS Paper 2 · Q20 · 15 marks
What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals ? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In short
Indo-US defence deals matter more for Indo-Pacific stability because they bring interoperability, maritime surveillance and co-produced technology, while Russian deals still sustain India's continental readiness. Russia's share of India's arms imports fell from about three-quarters in 2009-13 to 36% in 2019-23 (SIPRI).
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 305 words
Foundational agreements
LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018) and BECA (2020) enable logistics access, secure communications and joint operations.
Co-production
The GE F414 engine deal with HAL (2023) and 31 MQ-9B drones (2024) tie US deals to Make in India.
Reliability
The Ukraine war delayed S-400 deliveries, and Russia's "no limits" partnership with China raises doubts in a Himalayan crisis.
Legacy and strategic technology
Su-30MKIs, T-90s, the INS Chakra lease and the BrahMos missile keep Russia central, and the S-400 proved itself in Operation Sindoor (2025).
Strategic balance
Steady Russian ties keep Moscow from leaning wholly on Beijing and preserve India's continental deterrence.
Maritime awareness
P-8I and MQ-9B surveillance through the Information Fusion Centre-IOR helps track Chinese vessels.
Deterrence
Malabar exercises and interoperability raise the cost of coercion at sea.
Balancing
Russian ties reassure ASEAN that India is no US ally and hedge against shifts like the 2025 US tariffs.
Diversify and indigenise
Use both partners to build Atmanirbhar Bharat while adding France and Israel.
This model answer is indicative and the model can make mistakes; please verify key facts independently.
Practise this question
1Get the answer sheet
Sized for this question.
2Write your answer
Timed, by hand.
3Get it marked
Your score and what to fix.
This chapter in the exam
Regional12 questions
Asked in 10 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2026“IPMDA (Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness) bridges the gap between India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Quad’s collective Indo-Pacific strategy.” Make a critical assessment of the statement focusing on IPMDA.
- 2025"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
All 12 questions, sorted by sub-topic, with model answers and practice.
Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020 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.