Who of the following is the author of the books 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters'?

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2024 UPSC Prelims Current Affairs paper.

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Question

Who of the following is the author of the books 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters'?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — Subrahmanyam JaishankarStep-by-step Solution:Both books — The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World and Why Bharat Matters — are authored by Dr. S. Jaishankar, India's Minister of External Affairs.The India Way (published 2020): Written when Jaishankar was newly appointed as External Affairs Minister, it articulates his vision for India's foreign policy — emphasising strategic autonomy, multi-alignment, civilisational identity, and the importance of engaging with all major powers simultaneously without being bound to any single bloc. It draws on his four decades of diplomatic experience.Why Bharat Matters (published 2024): A follow-up that deepens his argument for India (Bharat) finding its own distinctive voice in global affairs, rooted in its civilisational heritage, democratic values, and emerging economic weight. The book argues that India's rise is not merely about economic growth but about restoring a historical equilibrium in world affairs.Why other options are incorrect:Option A (Bhupendra Yadav): Bhupendra Yadav is India's Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Labour. While he is a published author on political topics, neither of these books is his work. ✗Option B (Nalin Mehta): Nalin Mehta is a noted journalist and academic, author of books on media and Indian politics (e.g., India on Television). He is not associated with these two foreign policy books. ✗Option C (Shashi Tharoor): Shashi Tharoor is a prolific author and Congress MP, known for books like An Era of Darkness, Inglorious Empire, and The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cell Phone — all dealing with India but from a different ideological and historical perspective. He did not write either of these books. ✗Key Concept: S. Jaishankar served as India's Foreign Secretary (2015–2018) and was India's Ambassador to the USA and China before becoming External Affairs Minister in 2019. His books offer a practitioner's perspective on Indian foreign policy — emphasising India's strategic autonomy, its ancient civilisational roots in statecraft (drawing from Kautilya's Arthashastra and Thiruvalluvar), and the importance of pursuing national interest pragmatically. His ideas contrast with Nehruvian idealism — he argues for a more realpolitik, interest-driven approach. The books are important reading for UPSC aspirants as they articulate the philosophical foundations of India's current foreign policy framework.

Who of the following is the author of the books 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters'?

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Who of the following is the author of the books 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters'?

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