CURRENT AFFAIRS | 8 APRIL 2026
CLAT GK + INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & FOREIGN POLICY
• Foreign policy and maritime security — India’s Gulf strategy
• Article 51 DPSP — International peace and security
• UNCLOS — Freedom of navigation, Strait of Hormuz
• Energy security and economic sovereignty
• QUAD, Gulf Cooperation Council, Indo-Pacific framework
The Editorial Argument: Return of the Bombay School
An editorial in The Indian Express by Raja Mandal and C. Raja Mohan argues that as the Iran conflict escalates, India’s security is increasingly tied to the Arabian Sea. The editorial traces India’s strategic thinking to two historical schools of thought that have shaped the country’s approach to its western neighbourhood.
The first is the “Bombay School” — named after the strategic tradition associated with John Malcolm and Mountstuart Elphinstone during the East India Company era. This school viewed Persia and Arabia as India’s natural outer ring of defence, was maritime-focused, and emphasised commercial engagement. The Bombay School shaped the Company’s presence in the Gulf, controlling vital sea lanes.
The second is the “Delhi School” — focused on continental threats from Afghanistan and Central Asia, prioritising land-based security over maritime engagement.
After independence, the editorial argues, India neglected its Gulf strategy, effectively abandoning the Bombay School approach. Now, with the Strait of Hormuz crisis threatening 20% of the world’s oil supply, the editorial calls for India to urgently return to maritime-focused Gulf engagement.
Why the Gulf Matters: India’s Strategic Stakes
| Indian workers in Gulf | ~9 million |
| Annual remittances | $80 billion |
| Oil dependency on West Asia | 40%+ of India’s oil imports |
| Strait of Hormuz | 20% of world’s oil transits through it |
| GCC established | 1981 (6 members: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) |
| QUAD members | India, US, Japan, Australia |
India’s interests in the Gulf region are enormous and multi-dimensional:
- Energy security — India imports over 40% of its crude oil from West Asia. Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz directly threatens India’s energy supply and economic stability.
- Diaspora protection — Approximately 9 million Indian workers are employed in Gulf states, making it one of the largest diaspora concentrations globally. Their safety and welfare is a critical foreign policy concern.
- Remittances — India receives approximately $80 billion annually from Gulf states, a critical source of foreign exchange that supports millions of families.
- Strategic connectivity — India’s investments in Chabahar Port (Iran) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connect India to Central Asia through the Gulf region.
Legal Framework: UNCLOS, DPSP, and International Law
- Article 51 (DPSP) — Directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, and foster respect for international law and treaty obligations.
- UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) — Establishes the legal framework for freedom of navigation, including innocent passage and transit passage through international straits like the Strait of Hormuz.
- Freedom of navigation — Under UNCLOS, all ships enjoy the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. This is crucial for India’s energy security.
- QUAD framework — India, US, Japan, Australia coordinate on maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific — but the editorial argues this strategy is incomplete without a West Asia component.
The Indo-Pacific Gap: Why West Asia Matters
The editorial makes a crucial argument: India’s Indo-Pacific strategy without West Asia is incomplete. While India has actively engaged in the eastern maritime domain through the QUAD, Act East Policy, and partnerships with ASEAN nations, its western maritime flank — the Arabian Sea and Gulf region — has received insufficient strategic attention.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), established in 1981, comprising Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, represents India’s most important economic partners in West Asia. India-GCC trade and investment ties have grown significantly, but strategic security cooperation remains underdeveloped compared to the eastern Indo-Pacific engagement.
• CLAT GK frequently tests India’s foreign policy, strategic partnerships, and international organisations
• Understanding the difference between maritime and continental strategic traditions helps in reading comprehension passages on geopolitics
• UNCLOS, QUAD, GCC are frequently tested facts
• Energy security and remittances connect to economic questions
• Article 51 DPSP is an important constitutional provision for international relations questions
G — GCC (6 Gulf nations, established 1981)
U — UNCLOS (freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz)
L — Labour diaspora (9 million Indians)
F — Forty percent+ oil dependency on West Asia
S — Strait of Hormuz (20% of world oil)
Source: The Indian Express (Delhi Edition), Editorial — 8 April 2026
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