Question

Isn’t India a part of Southeast Asia? The north-eastern states are so close to the ASEAN countries.

Answer 1

India is part of South Asia, not Southeast Asia.

• Geographical and Geopolitical Demarcation: India forms the central part of the South Asian subcontinent, surrounded by natural geographic barriers the Himalayas to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. India is a key member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
• Proximity of North-Eastern States: Although India’s North-Eastern states share land borders with Myanmar and maintain close ethnic, cultural, and historical links with Southeast Asia, contiguity does not place India within the Southeast Asian regional bloc.
• Strategic Engagement: Recognizing this geographic and cultural proximity, India initiated the ‘Look East’ Policy in 1991 (upgraded to the ‘Act East’ Policy in 2014) to enhance economic, connectivity, and strategic integration with ASEAN nations, treating the North-East as a vital land gateway to the region.