What do you think?
Rate this book
India's Moment: Changing Power Equations around the World
The idea of how India negotiates with the world is at the heart of this book. Career diplomat Mohan Kumar represented India at multiple international fora over a career spanning three and a half decades. During this time, he would invariably be told that Indian negotiators were among the best in the business. And yet, several of his interlocutors would ask, in the same breath, why India was such a tough customer when it came to multilateral negotiations. Indeed, it was hard to escape the view, held even by India's friends, that the country was somehow more of a naysayer than a partner in key international parleys.
This book, then, is a sincere attempt to set the record straight. At one level, India is not very different from other countries insomuch as it seeks to protect where necessary, and advance where possible, its national interest. There are several unique aspects about India and the way it approaches multilateral negotiations with the world. This book dwells on some of those fundamental factors and traces how India's positions have evolved over time.
A central contention of this book is that India has moved, slowly but surely, from being an alleged naysayer to becoming a putative partner for the world in key multilateral negotiations. More broadly, this reflects India's growing political, economic and strategic clout in the world today. It is only when this transformation is fuller and more substantial that India will be able to fulfil its manifest destiny of becoming a leading power, capable of shaping global rules.
This book, then, is a sincere attempt to set the record straight. At one level, India is not very different from other countries insomuch as it seeks to protect where necessary, and advance where possible, its national interest. There are several unique aspects about India and the way it approaches multilateral negotiations with the world. This book dwells on some of those fundamental factors and traces how India's positions have evolved over time.
A central contention of this book is that India has moved, slowly but surely, from being an alleged naysayer to becoming a putative partner for the world in key multilateral negotiations. More broadly, this reflects India's growing political, economic and strategic clout in the world today. It is only when this transformation is fuller and more substantial that India will be able to fulfil its manifest destiny of becoming a leading power, capable of shaping global rules.
- GenresNonfiction
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2023
8 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 5, 2024
India’s Moment by veteran diplomat Mohan Kumar is a book that aims to demystify India’s often misunderstood, and misinterpreted stance at multilateral negotiations. Kumar writes to distill the ideas and principles that force the hand of Indian diplomats and bureaucrats as they negotiate for the interest of their nation. He contests the argument that India is obstructionist and a naysayer in most multilateral fora as he presents evidence of its positive role. He outlines the growth in India’s stature and professes that India’s political, economic, and strategic clout and India’s actions are falling in line with this growing stature.
The author presents a unique six-step integrated framework to analyse India’s response at various multilateral forums. These six steps are worth recounting. Firstly, “ The Gandhi Litmus Test”. Kumar postulates that considering the scale of poverty in India, it is axiomatic that India approaches negotiations and deals with the outside world, with the fundamental factor of its effect on the millions of people living below the poverty line. Secondly,“ Need for Policy Space.” Considering the complexity of translating international commitments to domestic laws, and the possibility that certain emergencies and contingencies might require urgent intervention; the space for domestic policy is considered critical. Thirdly, “ Domestic Politics.” Regardless of the party in power, the weight of electoral expectations plays a central role in how the government negotiates. Public opinion is a powerful influence on political decisions in multilateral negotiations. Fourth, “Geopolitical Imperatives.” India’s quest for strategic independence often leads to alignments and oppositions centered on geopolitics. Fifth, “ Commitment to Multilateralism and Principles.” Article 51 of the Indian constitution avows India’s commitment to international peace and security and to further international relations for the greater good of the world. Lastly, “ Realpolitik and Material Gain.” As most nations, India will choose whatever is in its best interest.
Kumar uses this six-step framework to analyse India’s responses at WTO, climate change negotiations, and the ongoing Russia- Ukraine conflict. The framework is well-articulated and its application to assess India’s responses to the three scenarios outlined above is balanced and well-informed.
Kumar chronicles how in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) era, India consistently carried the baton for the developing world as the trade discussions were unfavourably skewed towards the developed nations. India consistently championed the cause of its farmers and pharmaceutical industries. Even after the formation of the WTO, India challenged the non-implementation of issues from the erstwhile regime that were faced by developing countries, vetoing the implementation of the new norms. Kumar argues that at this juncture, the usefulness of the WTO is debatable. Like other nations, India is entering into free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries, giving them access to its market while gaining access to theirs. Kumar also highlights the adverse consequences of India staying out of many plurilateral preferential trading agreements due to its commitment to multilateral agreements.
The Chapter on climate change is very well-written and presents a very cogent explanation of India’s stance. He makes the necessary distinction between the 'lifestyle emissions' of the developed countries and the 'survival emissions' of the developing countries. He puts forward four key considerations that underpin India’s long-term low-carbon development strategy: one, it has contributed very little to global warming; two, it has significant energy needs for its development; three, India is committed to pursuing low-carbon strategies for development as per its national circumstances; and four, India needs to build climate resilience. The huge historical carbon footprint of the developed world versus that of the developing world is an uncomfortable truth for the West, and Kumar has placed this discussion front and center in his book.
In conclusion, Kumar examines whether India can make the transition from a balancing power to a leading power. He opines that as poverty levels decline in India the significance of the Gandhi Litmus test will fade away and India would have more room for negotiations. Kumar argues, “It is time for India to put an end to the needless politicisation and devise a code of conduct to be followed by all political parties so that in the matter of international negotiations concerning matters of national interest, the country will be united behind its negotiators.” Furthermore, he argues India has to recognise the urgent need to reform certain sectors to remain competitive globally. We have already fallen behind in some sectors against countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Kumar acknowledges the challenges of reducing inequality within India, suggesting reforming the tax structure and creating jobs through various means, including agriculture reforms and immigration. Kumar makes a persuasive case that India can transition from a balancing power to a leading power.
What works for the book, is the immense experience that the author brings to the subject. The negotiations at GATT, WTO, and the Climate change forum are captured in vivid detail and the back stories are captivating and informing. In the same breath, the details might be cumbersome for some readers.
Overall, a book that is well researched and engagingly articulated, a worthwhile read for policymakers, senior government functionaries, and commentators who would want to understand how India negotiates.
The author presents a unique six-step integrated framework to analyse India’s response at various multilateral forums. These six steps are worth recounting. Firstly, “ The Gandhi Litmus Test”. Kumar postulates that considering the scale of poverty in India, it is axiomatic that India approaches negotiations and deals with the outside world, with the fundamental factor of its effect on the millions of people living below the poverty line. Secondly,“ Need for Policy Space.” Considering the complexity of translating international commitments to domestic laws, and the possibility that certain emergencies and contingencies might require urgent intervention; the space for domestic policy is considered critical. Thirdly, “ Domestic Politics.” Regardless of the party in power, the weight of electoral expectations plays a central role in how the government negotiates. Public opinion is a powerful influence on political decisions in multilateral negotiations. Fourth, “Geopolitical Imperatives.” India’s quest for strategic independence often leads to alignments and oppositions centered on geopolitics. Fifth, “ Commitment to Multilateralism and Principles.” Article 51 of the Indian constitution avows India’s commitment to international peace and security and to further international relations for the greater good of the world. Lastly, “ Realpolitik and Material Gain.” As most nations, India will choose whatever is in its best interest.
Kumar uses this six-step framework to analyse India’s responses at WTO, climate change negotiations, and the ongoing Russia- Ukraine conflict. The framework is well-articulated and its application to assess India’s responses to the three scenarios outlined above is balanced and well-informed.
Kumar chronicles how in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) era, India consistently carried the baton for the developing world as the trade discussions were unfavourably skewed towards the developed nations. India consistently championed the cause of its farmers and pharmaceutical industries. Even after the formation of the WTO, India challenged the non-implementation of issues from the erstwhile regime that were faced by developing countries, vetoing the implementation of the new norms. Kumar argues that at this juncture, the usefulness of the WTO is debatable. Like other nations, India is entering into free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries, giving them access to its market while gaining access to theirs. Kumar also highlights the adverse consequences of India staying out of many plurilateral preferential trading agreements due to its commitment to multilateral agreements.
The Chapter on climate change is very well-written and presents a very cogent explanation of India’s stance. He makes the necessary distinction between the 'lifestyle emissions' of the developed countries and the 'survival emissions' of the developing countries. He puts forward four key considerations that underpin India’s long-term low-carbon development strategy: one, it has contributed very little to global warming; two, it has significant energy needs for its development; three, India is committed to pursuing low-carbon strategies for development as per its national circumstances; and four, India needs to build climate resilience. The huge historical carbon footprint of the developed world versus that of the developing world is an uncomfortable truth for the West, and Kumar has placed this discussion front and center in his book.
In conclusion, Kumar examines whether India can make the transition from a balancing power to a leading power. He opines that as poverty levels decline in India the significance of the Gandhi Litmus test will fade away and India would have more room for negotiations. Kumar argues, “It is time for India to put an end to the needless politicisation and devise a code of conduct to be followed by all political parties so that in the matter of international negotiations concerning matters of national interest, the country will be united behind its negotiators.” Furthermore, he argues India has to recognise the urgent need to reform certain sectors to remain competitive globally. We have already fallen behind in some sectors against countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Kumar acknowledges the challenges of reducing inequality within India, suggesting reforming the tax structure and creating jobs through various means, including agriculture reforms and immigration. Kumar makes a persuasive case that India can transition from a balancing power to a leading power.
What works for the book, is the immense experience that the author brings to the subject. The negotiations at GATT, WTO, and the Climate change forum are captured in vivid detail and the back stories are captivating and informing. In the same breath, the details might be cumbersome for some readers.
Overall, a book that is well researched and engagingly articulated, a worthwhile read for policymakers, senior government functionaries, and commentators who would want to understand how India negotiates.
July 9, 2025
India’s Moment: Changing Power Equations around the World by Ambassador (Retd.) Mohan Kumar is not just a chronicle of shifting global tides—it’s a front-row seat to India’s ascent from rule-taker to rule-shaper, told by someone who was actually in the room where it happened.
I picked this up as one of my rare few “Indic” books—unsure at first, honestly—but by the end, I was scribbling notes, underlining pages, and nodding like I was in a Geneva huddle myself. It’s that good.
Drawing from his 36 years in the Indian Foreign Service, Kumar stitches a compelling, lived-in account of India’s foreign policy journey—from the days of reactive diplomacy to today’s confident, agenda-setting role on the world stage. What sets this book apart is how it balances personal experience with systemic analysis. It’s both memoir and manual.
At the core is what he calls the “Integrated Negotiation Framework.” This isn’t just some diplomat’s PowerPoint—it’s the prism through which India views global engagement: factoring in domestic needs, economic benefits, political realities, geostrategic shifts, and India’s moral identity (what Kumar cheekily calls the “Gandhi litmus test”).
You see this play out across India’s climate diplomacy at COP26, its bold stance on pharmaceutical patents at the WTO, and its steady-footed neutrality during the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Kumar doesn’t romanticize these moves—he explains them, with nuance and unapologetic honesty.
One of the most gripping sections revisits India’s fight for generic drugs and TRIPS flexibilities at the WTO—a “poverty veto,” as he terms it, to protect millions from Western pharma monopolies. Another explores India’s pivotal role in climate negotiations—not as a reluctant participant, but as a justice-seeking, equity-focused negotiator wielding both stats and sanskar.
Throughout, Kumar dismantles lazy binaries—East vs. West, developed vs. developing—and shows how India, through a blend of pragmatism and moral persuasion, has carved a space for strategic autonomy. Not isolationism. Not tokenism. But deliberate, calibrated independence. It’s a worldview that echoes Nehruvian non-alignment, but infused with 21st-century realism, economic might, and diplomatic muscle.
Critics agree: Indian Express applauds the clarity and clean exposition; Swapna Peri (Goodreads) highlights the real-world case studies that bring weight to the framework. Yes, some of the language leans toward the bureaucratic now and then—but that’s a minor quibble in a book brimming with substance.
So, who should read India’s Moment? Honestly, anyone tired of sterile foreign policy white papers. Students of IR, journalists covering geopolitics, or curious citizens trying to decode why India didn’t “pick a side” in the Ukraine war—this is for you. It tells us not just what India did, but why it did it.
And for me personally? This wasn’t just a book—it was a compass. A gentle but firm reminder that India’s diplomacy isn’t just reactive anymore. It’s strategic. It’s self-assured. It’s Indic—and it's leading.
Read this, if you are a patrot.
Jay Shriram.
I picked this up as one of my rare few “Indic” books—unsure at first, honestly—but by the end, I was scribbling notes, underlining pages, and nodding like I was in a Geneva huddle myself. It’s that good.
Drawing from his 36 years in the Indian Foreign Service, Kumar stitches a compelling, lived-in account of India’s foreign policy journey—from the days of reactive diplomacy to today’s confident, agenda-setting role on the world stage. What sets this book apart is how it balances personal experience with systemic analysis. It’s both memoir and manual.
At the core is what he calls the “Integrated Negotiation Framework.” This isn’t just some diplomat’s PowerPoint—it’s the prism through which India views global engagement: factoring in domestic needs, economic benefits, political realities, geostrategic shifts, and India’s moral identity (what Kumar cheekily calls the “Gandhi litmus test”).
You see this play out across India’s climate diplomacy at COP26, its bold stance on pharmaceutical patents at the WTO, and its steady-footed neutrality during the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Kumar doesn’t romanticize these moves—he explains them, with nuance and unapologetic honesty.
One of the most gripping sections revisits India’s fight for generic drugs and TRIPS flexibilities at the WTO—a “poverty veto,” as he terms it, to protect millions from Western pharma monopolies. Another explores India’s pivotal role in climate negotiations—not as a reluctant participant, but as a justice-seeking, equity-focused negotiator wielding both stats and sanskar.
Throughout, Kumar dismantles lazy binaries—East vs. West, developed vs. developing—and shows how India, through a blend of pragmatism and moral persuasion, has carved a space for strategic autonomy. Not isolationism. Not tokenism. But deliberate, calibrated independence. It’s a worldview that echoes Nehruvian non-alignment, but infused with 21st-century realism, economic might, and diplomatic muscle.
Critics agree: Indian Express applauds the clarity and clean exposition; Swapna Peri (Goodreads) highlights the real-world case studies that bring weight to the framework. Yes, some of the language leans toward the bureaucratic now and then—but that’s a minor quibble in a book brimming with substance.
So, who should read India’s Moment? Honestly, anyone tired of sterile foreign policy white papers. Students of IR, journalists covering geopolitics, or curious citizens trying to decode why India didn’t “pick a side” in the Ukraine war—this is for you. It tells us not just what India did, but why it did it.
And for me personally? This wasn’t just a book—it was a compass. A gentle but firm reminder that India’s diplomacy isn’t just reactive anymore. It’s strategic. It’s self-assured. It’s Indic—and it's leading.
Read this, if you are a patrot.
Jay Shriram.
April 19, 2024
"India's Moment: Changing Power Equations Around The World" by Ambassador Mohan Kumar explores India's role in international negotiations, addressing the dichotomy between being praised for its negotiation skills and being perceived as a formidable participant in multilateral talks. The book dispels misconceptions and offers insights into the factors shaping India's negotiating positions. It covers topics such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, trade, climate issues, and war and peace. Kumar introduces the "Integrated Framework" to shed light on India's negotiating briefs and diplomatic motivations. The book also challenges the unfair characterization of India in international trade negotiations and contextualizes India's defensive posturing to protect domestic interests, particularly the welfare of millions of poor Indians.
November 3, 2025
Not the most entertaining of reads, going into great detail s on trade negotiations etc. Mr. Kumar does his best to try to justify India’s unprincipled position on Ukraine, without convincing this reader.
July 13, 2024
Amb. Mohan Kumar's (Retd.) analysis in the book is a fresh new way of looking at India's foreign policy decisions in the WTO, on Climate Change and Ukraine. His Integrated Assessment Framework takes a leaf out of strategic jargon and applies it to very real decisions taken by India in the global high table. The author's proximity as a serving IFS officer offers credible information and in some cases, a closer insight into the practice of back-room negotiations.
While the recommendations towards the end are valid and sensible, throughout the book I tended to feel his bureaucratic bias that places the State as the most important facet of any world decision. Granted he represented the GOI and worked closely with other national governments too in his career, it is a blindspot to have missed the role and impact of business, civil society and the individual in his analysis. Seen in this light, the moralistic Gandhi litmus test he brings forward is just another way of saying India is poor with about 500 million in poverty and that's the excuse for the Indian State to get its way in negotiations.
Surely, there could've been more. However, the book establishes exactly what it promises and does not leave me disappointed. Diplomatic doublespeak and subtext was also explained well unlike most other books.
While the recommendations towards the end are valid and sensible, throughout the book I tended to feel his bureaucratic bias that places the State as the most important facet of any world decision. Granted he represented the GOI and worked closely with other national governments too in his career, it is a blindspot to have missed the role and impact of business, civil society and the individual in his analysis. Seen in this light, the moralistic Gandhi litmus test he brings forward is just another way of saying India is poor with about 500 million in poverty and that's the excuse for the Indian State to get its way in negotiations.
Surely, there could've been more. However, the book establishes exactly what it promises and does not leave me disappointed. Diplomatic doublespeak and subtext was also explained well unlike most other books.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews