The world was surprised in August 1971 when India and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of mutual military protection. The author traces the history of economic relations between the two powers which preceded the political move signalling the end of India's non-alignment. During the period covered by this book, India was the principal recipient of Soviet development assistance: it absorbed 18 per cent of total Soviet aid while only four other countries received more than 4 per cent apiece. The very entry of the USSR as a donor influenced the West, chiefly the Untied States, to increase its aid, and this 1972 book examines the terms on which their competitive assistance was rendered. By assembling and analysing material on the individual Soviet projects and on overall Indian trade with East Europe, Miss Datar draws significant conclusions on the advantages and disadvantages of the close ties of a developing country with the centrally planned economies.