2023 · GS Paper 2 · Q19 · 15 marks
The expansion and strengthening of NATO and a stronger US-Europe strategic partnership works well for India.' What is your opinion about this statement ? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.
In short
A stronger NATO and US-Europe partnership works for India only partly: it helps balance China and diversify defence supplies, but pushes Russia toward China and brings sanctions pressure. Russia's share of India's arms imports fell from 76% in 2009-13 to 36% in 2019-23 (SIPRI).
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 266 words
Balancing China
The EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy (2021), European naval deployments and NATO's outreach to Japan and Australia show a West more willing to back India.
Defence diversification
Western technology access, from the US-India iCET (2023) to the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, eases India's diversification as Russia's share of its arms imports fell from 76% in 2009-13 to 36% in 2019-23 (SIPRI).
Economic anchoring
Joint de-risking from China steers capital to India, as the IMEC corridor and India-EU goods trade above US$136 billion a year (PIB, 2026) show.
Russia pushed to China
Expansion is Moscow's stated grievance behind the Ukraine war, whose isolation deepened the "no limits" Russia-China partnership, weakening India's balancer.
Sanctions pressure
In 2025 NATO chief Mark Rutte warned India of secondary sanctions and Washington added a 25% tariff penalty for Russian oil purchases, while S-400 spares face payment hurdles.
Autonomy at stake
S. Jaishankar rejected a 2023 "NATO Plus" proposal, saying the NATO template does not apply to India.
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
Politics of Developed Countries3 questions
Asked in 3 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2024The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China's supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China's political and economic dominance.' Explain this statement with examples.
- 2021"The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of a China, that is much more challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union." Explain.
Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023 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.