This book analyzes the role of energy in Indian foreign policy, particularly in defining bilateral relations. It also focuses on the critical gaps in conceptualizing its formulations and recommends a framework for sustainable energy security. India, the fourth largest consumer of oil, is an energy-deficit economy, importing more than eighty percent of its needs. This makes securing energy integral to its foreign policy goals. Obviously it is important for India to actively participate in the global energy market and establish robust, enduring and nuanced diplomatic relations with energy exporting countries. Equally important is that India diversifies its energy mix and moves towards carbon-free growth. Renewable energy is today high on the global energy agenda. Indian energy policy thus has to address a range of issues, domestically and on foreign turf. It has to move beyond the transactional mode by creating equity in the global energy industry. Today, the global energy regime is undergoing fundamental changes, as is the power dynamics of the global energy order. There are now many new producers and diverse consumers. The trade in energy has increased in volume and its direction has shifted from the West to the East, and the ongoing structural changes in the energy market call for a new security architecture. Given the complex and competitive environment of the new geo-economics and geopolitics of energy, the question could well be, should India frame energy issues in conflict mode or move toward innovative cooperation? In either case the message is that India needs an integrated energy security policy.

"India: The Emerging Energy Player" attempts to profile India's energy relations in the global context and fathom the issues it is facing in defending its energy interests in the changing world market. The nature of India's engagement with the Gulf, Iran, Russia, and Africa, and its understanding of the perceived competition are the major concerns of the book. It will be useful for academics, policy planners, and opinion makers not only in India but abroad as well.

This book analyzes the role of energy in Indian foreign policy, particularly in defining bilateral relations. It also focuses on the critical gaps in conceptualizing its formulations and recommends a framework for sustainable energy security. India, the fourth largest consumer of oil, is an energy-deficit economy, importing more than eighty percent of its needs. This makes securing energy integral to its foreign policy goals. Obviously it is important for India to actively participate in the global energy market and establish robust, enduring and nuanced diplomatic relations with energy exporting countries. Equally important is that India diversifies its energy mix and moves towards carbon-free growth. Renewable energy is today high on the global energy agenda. Indian energy policy thus has to address a range of issues, domestically and on foreign turf. It has to move beyond the transactional mode by creating equity in the global energy industry. Today, the global energy regime is undergoing fundamental changes, as is the power dynamics of the global energy order. There are now many new producers and diverse consumers. The trade in energy has increased in volume and its direction has shifted from the West to the East, and the ongoing structural changes in the energy market call for a new security architecture. Given the complex and competitive environment of the new geo-economics and geopolitics of energy, the question could well be, should India frame energy issues in conflict mode or move toward innovative cooperation? In either case the message is that India needs an integrated energy security policy.

These essays examine India's relations with key powers including the Russian Federation, China and the USA and with key adversaries in the global arena in the aftermath of the Cold War. One positive relationship is that of India's relations with Israel since 1992.

This book explores the multifaceted aspects of India’s energy security concerns. Bringing together a set of opinions and analysis from experts and policymakers, it sheds light on the context of India’s energy insecurity and explores its various dimensions, its nature and extent. Contributors examine the role that trade, foreign and security policy should play in enhancing India’s energy security. It is argued that the key challenge for India is to increase economic growth while at the same time keeping energy demands low. This is especially challenging with the transition from biomass to fossil fuels, the growth of motorized private transport, and rising incomes, aspirations and changing lifestyles. The book suggests that at this time there are strong arguments to lessen the fossil fuel path dependence and it argues for a need to engage with all the key sources of this dependence to implement a process of energy change. India’s Energy Security is a timely contribution given the national and international interest in the issue of energy security and the possibility that energy concerns have the potential of becoming the cause of serious international conflicts. It will be of interest to academics and policy makers working in the field of Asian Studies, Energy Policy, International Relations and Security Studies.

This landmark book provides the first comprehensive assessment of India as a political and strategic power since Indias nuclear tests, its 1999 war with Pakistan, and its breakthrough economic achievements.