印度外交政策的基礎奠定於獨立運動期間。那時我們的領導者們即使還在為獨立而鬥爭，就已經在從事著這項偉大的事業。當時所形成的印度外交政策的各項原則一直沿用至今，這就是：對與世界上所有國家建立友好關係的信念；用和平的手段解決衝突；所有國家主權平等；在不結盟的原則中所宣示的思想和行動的獨立性；以及公平地處理國際關係。
The foundations of India’s foreign policy were laid during the freedom movement when our leaders, even when fighting for independence, were engaged with the great causes of the time. The principles of India’s foreign policy, that emerged then, have stood the test of time: a belief in friendly relations with all countries of the world, the resolution of conflicts by peaceful means, the sovereign equality of all states, independence of thought and action as manifested in the principles of Non-alignment, and equity in the conduct of international relations.
在哈瓦賈拉爾•尼赫魯的領導下，印度成為不結盟運動的創始成員。印度一直積極致力於增強這一運動，使之成為一個有效的喉舌，以便在發展、和平、穩定等重大問題上代表發展中國家的集體願望和利益。1983年印度作為東道主在新德里召開了第7屆不結盟運動高峰會議。近年來，在冷戰結束之後，我們的外交政策已經集中到隨著時代的變化重新規定不結盟運動的重要性，以使這個運動得以增強。
Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, India was the founder member of the Non-aligned Movement. India has played an active role in strengthening the Movement and making it an effective voice in representing the collective aspirations and interests of the developing countries on such vital issues as development, peace and stability. India hosted the 7th NAM Summit in New Delhi in 1983. In recent years, after the end of the Cold War, our foreign policy has been focused on strengthening the Movement by redefining its priorities in keeping with the changing times.
在反殖民主義的鬥爭中印度也一直站在世界群體的最前列。當然，為了在其他發展中國家，特別是在非洲國家，消除殖民主義的殘餘，印度的獨立本身就起到了重要的催化作用。印度也是在1946年第一個提出南非種族歧視問題的國家。正是在印度的倡議下，1986年在哈拉雷召開的第8屆不結盟運動高峰會議上成立了AFRICA（抵抗侵略、殖民主義和種族隔離行動）基金。印度曾是AFRICA基金委員會的主席，其任期到1993年屆滿。
India has also been in the forefront of the world community in the struggle against colonialism. Indeed, the Independence of India itself played the role of a catalyst in removing the vestiges of colonialism in other parts of the developing world, particularly in Africa. India was also the first country to raise the question of racial discrimination in South Africa in 1946. It was at India’s initiative that the AFRICA (Action for Resistance to Invasion, Colonialism and Apartheid) Fund was set up at the 8th NAM Summit in Harare in 1986.India was the Chairman of the AFRICA Fund Committee, which wound up in 1993.
印度外交政策的一個顯著特點是強烈擁護普遍和完全的裁軍，而以核裁軍作為首要任務。為達成這個目標，印度已在聯合國內外採取了若干主動行動。在1988年，印度在討論裁軍的聯合國大會的第3次會議上提交了一份行動計畫，以建立一種無核武器、無暴力的世界秩序。為了強調國際上對史無前例的核武競賽的關注，印度也是1980年6國5大洲聯合倡議的成員之一。但是，雖然印度一直，而且仍將，堅持其在一定時間框架內完成核裁軍的承諾，然而印度始終堅持以有原則性的態度反對某些歧視性的條約，如核不擴散條約（NPT）和全面禁止核子試驗條約（CTBT），並且拒絕放棄自己的核選擇，直到世界上所有國家，包括擁有核武器的國家，都接受分階段核裁軍的想法為止。
A notable feature of Indian foreign policy has been its strong advocacy of general and complete disarmament, with nuclear disarmament being accorded the highest priority. Towards this end, India has taken several initiatives within the United Nations and outside. In 1988,India presented to the 3rd Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to Disarmament an Action Plan for Ushering in a Nuclear Weapons Free and Non-Violent World Order. In order to highlight international concern about the unprecedented nuclear arms race, India was also a member of the Six-Nation Five-Continent joint Initiative in the 1980s.But while India has remained committed to nuclear disarmament, to be achieved in a time-bound framework, it has consistently and in a principled manner opposed such discriminatory treaties as the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and has refused to give up its nuclear options until all countries in the world including nuclear weapon states embrace the idea of nuclear disarmament in a phased manner.