With reference to ‘Look East Policy’ of India, consider the following statements:

Correct Option (b):

Statement 1 is correct. India's 'Look East Policy', initiated in 1991, aimed to enhance its strategic and economic engagement with Southeast and East Asian nations. A primary objective was to establish India as a significant regional player in East Asian affairs through increased diplomatic interaction, security cooperation, and economic integration.

Statement 3 is correct. The policy also sought to restore and strengthen India's historical and cultural ties with its neighbours in Southeast and East Asia. This included reviving ancient civilizational links, maritime trade routes, and shared cultural heritage, particularly Buddhist connections, to foster deeper understanding and cooperation.

Incorrect Options:

Statement 2 is incorrect. The 'Look East Policy' was primarily driven by India's economic liberalization reforms and the strategic imperative to diversify its partnerships following the end of the Cold War. It was not conceived as an effort to 'plug a vacuum' created by the termination of the Cold War, but rather as a proactive reorientation towards a dynamic economic region for mutual benefit and strategic balancing. The policy focused on economic integration and building new strategic alignments, rather than filling a perceived power void.

Option (a) is incorrect because it excludes the cultural and historical dimension represented by Statement 3.

Option (c) is incorrect because it overlooks India's strategic objective of establishing itself as an important regional player, as stated in Statement 1.

Option (d) is incorrect because Statement 2 does not accurately represent an objective of the 'Look East Policy'.