The emphasis and prioritization of the "Neighbourhood First" policy in foreign policymaking was most notably championed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has made the Neighbourhood First policy a cornerstone of India's foreign relations, focusing on strengthening ties with immediate neighbors in South Asia through enhanced connectivity, trade, political engagement, and regional cooperation

. Modi's government explicitly launched this policy by inviting heads of state from South Asian countries to his swearing-in ceremony in 2014, signaling the importance he placed on the neighborhood in India's foreign policy agenda

. The policy aims to build peace, stability, and prosperity in the region by fostering economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and people-to- people contacts, while also addressing security concerns

. Historically, the concept of prioritizing the neighborhood has roots in earlier Indian foreign policy, but it was under Modi's leadership that the policy was articulated as a proactive and pragmatic strategy to enhance India's regional influence and counterbalance other powers like China

. The policy also aligns with India's broader strategic goals in the Indian Ocean region and its ambition to be a regional hegemon

. In summary, Narendra Modi is the key figure who emphasized and prioritized the Neighbourhood First approach in India's foreign policymaking, making it a defining feature of his administration's diplomatic strategy.