The Jindal India Institute (JII) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) recently completed the third edition of its one-day certificate course on "Understanding India's Foreign and Security Policy." This year's program drew 31 participants, including foreign diplomats, correspondents, and defense attaches from 20 countries, along with representatives from embassies and international organizations. The attendees aimed to enhance their understanding of India's strategic landscape.

Countries represented included Australia, Brazil, Canada, members of the European Union, Finland, Kenya, Lithuania, Norway, and others like the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Renowned institutions, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), also participated, reflecting the global interest in the course.

The program offered six comprehensive modules led by expert practitioners and academicians in international relations and defense. These sessions aimed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of India’s foreign policy objectives and security strategies in an increasingly complex global context.

The course began with an overview by Sreeram Chaulia, Professor and Director General of JII, who outlined India's foreign policy foundations. He discussed how India’s strategies are shaped by its historical and cultural heritage, citing influences from Kautilya's realpolitik to the Upanishads' idealism. Chaulia also emphasized India's core concepts of strategic autonomy, non-alignment, and multi-alignment, highlighting the nation's efforts to enhance its global standing.

A key session covered the organizational structure of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharya, a Professor of Diplomatic Practice at the Jindal School of International Affairs, combined theoretical insights with practical knowledge to answer questions about the MEA's roles and responsibilities.