India and Israel formalised diplomatic relations in 1992, and since then bilateral ties have expanded across defence, agriculture, water technology, and counter-terrorism cooperation. Israel is now one of India's top defence suppliers, with deals covering drones, missile systems, and surveillance equipment. The two countries also run joint agricultural research projects under the India–Israel Agricultural Project. Bilateral trade stands at roughly $7–8 billion annually. Strategic convergence on counter-terrorism and technology transfers continues to deepen the partnership beyond its originally limited diplomatic footprint.

India's relationship with Israel is a case study in pragmatic foreign policy evolution. Until 1992, India withheld full diplomatic recognition largely to retain Arab support and solidarity with the Palestinian cause under a Non-Aligned Movement framework. The 1992 normalisation under P.V. Narasimha Rao marked a pivotal shift—India began separating its symbolic support for Palestine from its practical bilateral interests with Israel.

The relationship today rests on four pillars. First, defence: Israel is consistently among India's top two or three arms suppliers, providing systems like the Barak missile, Heron and Harop drones, and Phalcon AWACS radars (co-developed with Russia). India is Israel's largest defence export customer. Second, agriculture and water: the India–Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP), launched formally around 2008 and expanded through subsequent phases, supports centres of excellence in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan for drip irrigation, protected cultivation, and post-harvest management. Third, counter-terrorism intelligence sharing, particularly relevant after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Fourth, technology and innovation, including start-up collaboration under joint innovation funds.

The static knowledge the examiner tests includes: when diplomatic relations were established (1992), the nature of IIAP, India's earlier non-recognition policy rationale, and the broader context of India's 'multi-alignment'—maintaining ties with Arab states, Iran, and Israel simultaneously without formal alliance obligations.