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International Relations GS 2 In the news 24 times

India's Neighbourhood First Policy

Launched under the Modi government, the Neighbourhood First Policy prioritises India's immediate neighbours in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, emphasising connectivity, trade facilitation, and development partnerships. Bangladesh is a centrepiece of this policy given shared borders, the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) connectivity initiative, and the strategic importance of Bangladesh's ports for India's landlocked northeastern states.

Key details
  • India has extended lines of credit to Bangladesh worth over $8 billion for infrastructure projects including railways, roads, power transmission, and ports.
  • The Agartala-Akhaura rail link, inaugurated in 2023, is a flagship connectivity project under the Neighbourhood First framework.
  • Bangladesh's Chittagong and Mongla ports are strategically important for India's northeast as potential transit routes, as the "Chicken's Neck" (Siliguri Corridor) is the only current land connection between mainland India and its northeastern states.
In the news

Tracked since February 13, 2026 · last seen July 06, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

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