India’s Aid Policy: a Response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia? – Smruti S. Pattanaik

The provision of aid and grants to its immediate neighbors remains a key part of India’s neighborhood policy. Facing China’s massive investment in infrastructure development, especially through the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), India has recently defined its aid policy as a response to China’s BRI, thus promoting an alternative model of investment and capacity-building. Indeed, India has been cautious in terms of investing in projects that will bring politico-economic dividends to its foreign policy and promote the interests of the recipient countries rather than competing with China and focusing on preventing Chinese presence.