ABSTRACT
China's Belt and Road Initiative (2013) has reshaped global development financing and infrastructure connectivity in that it prompted planned responses from major powers. This paper examines India's thorough economic diplomacy as a counter-strategy to China's BRI expansion throughout South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. The research reveals India's multidimensional approach through its expanded Lines of Credit, infrastructure initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor, and also digital partnerships via India Stack as the research uses comparative case studies and quantitative analysis of trade flows plus development financing data (2013-2025). Resource constraints limit India's ability up to BRI‘s scale. However, the study shows India has achieved prominent successes in digital payments as well as renewable energy cooperation through the International Solar Alliance. India's strategy proves most effective upon offering genuine alternatives rather than opposing Chinese initiatives merely especially by leveraging comparative advantages in democratic governance, information technology, and cultural affinity, which contributes valuable perceptions into geoeconomic rivalry dynamics.
