India’s engagement with ASEAN is part of which broader foreign policy initiative?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is a) Look East Policy (now Act East Policy).
India’s engagement with ASEAN is the central pillar of its Act East Policy (AEP), which evolved from the Look East Policy (LEP). This initiative represents a strategic shift in India's focus toward the Asia-Pacific region.

Information Booster :

 Evolution: From "Look East" to "Act East"
The transition from "Looking" to "Acting" reflects a deeper, more proactive commitment to Southeast Asia.

Look East Policy (1991): Launched by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, this policy was primarily economic in nature. After the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, India sought to integrate its liberalizing economy with the high-growth "Asian Tigers" and ASEAN nations.

Act East Policy (2014): Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit, this was an upgrade to make the engagement more action-oriented, strategic, and security-focused. It expanded the geographic scope beyond ASEAN to include countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia.