The principle of Strategic Autonomy is the cardinal principle of India’s post cold war foreign policy. It refers to independence of foreign policy with respect to strategic issues and interests of a nation. India’s strategic autonomy has roots in her erstwhile policy of non-alignment. In the post-cold war global order, it originated in context of India’s close strategic ties with the US as India still continues to enjoy strategic ties with US rival Russia. The practice of strategic autonomy in India reveals that it largely used to vindicate India policy from the undue influence of the US. However, the positive and proactive dimensions of Strategic Autonomy involves India’s greater role in increasingly polarized global order. It suits the needs of an emerging power like India.