Grow at home, engage abroad: External Affairs Minister Jaishankar tells students at IIT Madras event

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's address at IIT Madras, coinciding with the launch of the IITM Global Research Foundation, epitomizes India's evolving approach to global engagement, encapsulated in the mantra 'Grow at home, engage abroad.' This event is not merely an academic milestone but a significant statement of India's strategic foreign policy, leveraging its burgeoning human capital and technological prowess to assert its position on the global stage.

**Background Context and What Happened:**

Historically, India's foreign policy, shaped by its colonial past and the Cold War era, often prioritized non-alignment and strategic autonomy. While this provided a unique moral authority, economic liberalization in the 1990s and the rise of a multipolar world necessitated a more proactive and integrated global outlook. The current government has significantly accelerated this shift, emphasizing multi-alignment, economic diplomacy, and the projection of India's soft power. The 'Grow at home, engage abroad' philosophy articulated by EAM Jaishankar reflects this dual imperative: strengthening domestic capabilities through robust research and innovation (growing at home) while simultaneously forging international partnerships and collaborations to address global challenges and secure national interests (engaging abroad). The launch of the IITM Global Research Foundation and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with multinational institutions are tangible manifestations of this strategy, aiming to internationalize Indian higher education and research.

**Key Stakeholders Involved:**

Several key stakeholders are central to this initiative. The **Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)**, led by EAM Jaishankar, is the primary driver of India's foreign policy, actively promoting global engagement through various diplomatic channels, including educational and scientific collaborations. **IIT Madras**, as a premier institution of national importance, plays a pivotal role in spearheading this academic outreach, leveraging its reputation for excellence in engineering and technology. The **multinational institutions and partners** involved in signing MoUs are crucial for providing global exposure, sharing expertise, and facilitating collaborative research. Finally, the **students and researchers** at IIT Madras and other Indian institutions are the ultimate beneficiaries and future torchbearers of this vision, gaining access to world-class facilities, diverse perspectives, and global career opportunities.

**Significance for India:**

This initiative holds profound significance for India across multiple dimensions. Economically, it can foster a vibrant **knowledge economy** by boosting research and development, attracting foreign investment in R&D, and creating high-skilled jobs. Politically, it enhances India's **soft power** and diplomatic influence, projecting India as a responsible global partner capable of contributing to solutions for complex global issues like climate change, pandemics, and technological advancements. Socially, it enriches the academic landscape, promotes cultural exchange, and helps in the **internationalization of higher education**, aligning with the goals of the **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020**. The NEP 2020 explicitly advocates for research collaboration and internationalization to improve the quality of Indian education and make India a global study destination. Furthermore, by creating attractive research opportunities at home, it can help mitigate 'brain drain' and foster 'brain gain', encouraging Indian talent to contribute domestically while benefiting from global exposure.

**Historical Context and Future Implications:**

Post-independence, India established institutions like the IITs to build a strong scientific and technological base. While these institutions achieved excellence, global engagement was often limited. The current push signifies a maturation of India's scientific and educational infrastructure, enabling it to move from being a recipient of knowledge to a significant contributor and collaborator. This approach aligns with India's broader foreign policy objectives, such as the 'Act East Policy' and 'Neighbourhood First Policy,' which seek deeper engagement with specific regions. Looking ahead, this initiative could transform India into a global hub for research and innovation, attracting international talent and fostering a dynamic ecosystem of knowledge creation. However, challenges remain, including ensuring sustained funding, streamlining regulatory frameworks, and maintaining the quality and relevance of collaborative research. The success of such foundations will pave the way for other Indian institutions to follow suit, leading to a more globally integrated and competitive Indian higher education system.

**Related Constitutional Articles, Acts, or Policies:**

While there isn't a single constitutional article directly dictating such academic collaborations, the spirit of **Article 51** of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which calls for the promotion of international peace and security and the fostering of respect for international law and treaty obligations, provides a broad constitutional underpinning for India's proactive global engagement. More directly, the **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020** is a crucial policy framework that champions the internationalization of education, research collaboration, and the development of a global outlook among students and institutions. Government initiatives under the **Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP)** also support international scientific cooperation to enhance national capabilities and address global challenges.