Moving beyond the idealistic echoes of its past, India has adopted an approach of gritty realism as it positions itself on the world stage. Its a high-stakes game, one centred around the singular pursuit of national interest.

As India pulled off a big diplomatic win after eight jailed Navy veterans were released by Qatar earlier this week, here's a look at how India's standing in the world was shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bold diplomatic moves in recent years.

Russian ambassador to India Denis Alipov on Saturday called for urgent reforms of the United Nations and agencies under it while making a strong case for the inclusion of India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.