After independence, India had to decide how to deal with the world. Two choices shaped its foreign policy. India stayed in the Commonwealth, even after becoming a republic. And India helped start the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), to stay away from the Cold War blocs. Exams ask about their founding, members, declarations and India's role. This post explains both in simple words. It ends with 15 previous year questions.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- The modern Commonwealth began with the London Declaration of 1949. It let India stay in as a republic.
- The Commonwealth has 56 members. Its secretariat is at Marlborough House, London.
- The first NAM summit was held at Belgrade in September 1961.
- NAM's founders included Nehru, Tito, Nasser, Sukarno and Nkrumah.
- NAM has 120 members and no permanent secretariat.
1. The Commonwealth - an introduction
The Commonwealth is a voluntary group of countries. Most of them were once part of the British Empire. It grew in steps:
- 1926 - the Balfour Declaration said Britain and its dominions were equal in status.
- 1931 - the Statute of Westminster gave this equality legal form. The group was called the British Commonwealth.
- 1949 - the London Declaration created the modern Commonwealth. Members became "free and equal".
- 1965 - the Commonwealth Secretariat was set up in London.
The British monarch has served as the Head of the Commonwealth. This is a symbolic role. It gives no power over member countries.
2. India and the Commonwealth
India became independent in 1947. It planned to become a republic, with no British king as head of state. Under the old rules, a republic could not stay in the Commonwealth.
The London Declaration of April 1949 solved this. India agreed to accept the British king only as the "symbol of the free association" of members. So India stayed in, even after becoming a republic on 26 January 1950. This became the model for many other republics.
India's links with the Commonwealth include:
- India hosted the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in New Delhi in 1983.
- India hosted the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.
- India is the largest member by population.
3. Key facts about the Commonwealth
| Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Members | 56 countries |
| Secretariat | Marlborough House, London (set up 1965) |
| Main meeting | CHOGM, usually every two years |
| Commonwealth Day | Second Monday of March |
| Charter | Commonwealth Charter, adopted in 2012 and signed in 2013 |
| Key declaration | Harare Declaration, 1991 - on democracy and human rights |
| Newest members | Gabon and Togo, in 2022 |
Some members had no British colonial link. Mozambique joined in 1995 and Rwanda in 2009.
The Commonwealth Games began in 1930 at Hamilton, Canada, as the British Empire Games. They are held every four years.
4. NAM - background
After 1945, the world split into two blocs. One was led by the United States, the other by the Soviet Union. This was the Cold War. Many new nations of Asia and Africa did not want to join either side.
The idea of non-alignment grew in steps:
- 1954 - Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence, was set out in the India-China agreement.
- 1955 - the Bandung Conference in Indonesia brought Asian and African nations together.
- 1956 - Nehru, Nasser and Tito met at Brioni in Yugoslavia.
- 1961 - the first NAM summit was held at Belgrade, Yugoslavia, with 25 members.
5. NAM - founders and features
The five leaders seen as the founders of NAM are:
| Leader | Country |
|---|---|
| Jawaharlal Nehru | India |
| Josip Broz Tito | Yugoslavia |
| Gamal Abdel Nasser | Egypt |
| Sukarno | Indonesia |
| Kwame Nkrumah | Ghana |
Key features of NAM:
- It has 120 member countries. It is the largest group of states after the United Nations.
- It has no permanent secretariat. The country holding the chair runs its work.
- The summit of heads of state is its top meeting.
- Non-alignment does not mean staying neutral. It means judging each issue on its merits, free from bloc pressure.
India hosted the 7th NAM summit in New Delhi in 1983. The 19th summit was held at Kampala, Uganda, in January 2024.
6. Commonwealth vs NAM
| Point | Commonwealth | NAM |
|---|---|---|
| Began | 1949 (London Declaration) | 1961 (Belgrade summit) |
| Members | 56 | 120 |
| Secretariat | Marlborough House, London | None |
| Basis | Shared history, mostly British Empire | Staying out of Cold War blocs |
| India's role | Member; set the model for republics | Founding member |
7. Previous year questions
- Which declaration created the modern Commonwealth in 1949? – London Declaration
- Where is the Commonwealth Secretariat? – Marlborough House, London
- In which year was the Commonwealth Secretariat set up? – 1965
- How many members does the Commonwealth have? – 56
- Which two countries joined the Commonwealth in 2022? – Gabon and Togo
- Where were the first Commonwealth Games held in 1930? – Hamilton, Canada
- When is Commonwealth Day observed? – Second Monday of March
- In which year did India host the Commonwealth Games? – 2010, Delhi
- Where was the first NAM summit held? – Belgrade, Yugoslavia (1961)
- How many countries attended the first NAM summit? – 25
- Which conference of 1955 led to the idea of NAM? – Bandung Conference
- Which Indian leader was a founder of NAM? – Jawaharlal Nehru
- Who represented Egypt among the founders of NAM? – Gamal Abdel Nasser
- Where did India host the 7th NAM summit in 1983? – New Delhi
- How many member countries does NAM have? – 120
8. How to revise this topic
Start with the Commonwealth timeline: 1926 Balfour, 1931 Westminster, 1949 London Declaration, 1965 Secretariat.
Next, fix the Commonwealth numbers: 56 members, Marlborough House, second Monday of March, Gabon and Togo in 2022.
Then learn the NAM path: 1954 Panchsheel, 1955 Bandung, 1956 Brioni, 1961 Belgrade with 25 members.
Finally, remember the five NAM founders and India's two hostings in 1983 - CHOGM and the NAM summit, both in New Delhi.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Commonwealth?
It is a voluntary group of 56 countries, most of them once part of the British Empire. The modern Commonwealth began with the London Declaration of 1949, and its secretariat is at Marlborough House, London.
How did India stay in the Commonwealth as a republic?
Under the London Declaration of April 1949, India accepted the British king only as the symbol of the free association of members. This let India stay in after becoming a republic on 26 January 1950.
What is the Non-Aligned Movement?
It is a group of 120 countries that chose not to join either Cold War bloc. Its first summit was held at Belgrade in September 1961, and it has no permanent secretariat.
Who founded the Non-Aligned Movement?
Its five founders are seen as Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
Does non-alignment mean neutrality?
No. Non-alignment means judging each issue on its merits and keeping freedom of choice, instead of following a bloc. It is not the same as staying neutral on every issue.
For more Static GK topics in simple language, see our ASEAN, SCO and QUAD, United Nations and Its Organs and SAARC and BIMSTEC posts, or browse the Static GK section. Preparing for a defence exam? Start with the UPSC CDS guide or join the 100 Hour GS Course.