New Delhi: India has vaulted to the third spot in the latest Global Power Index, leapfrogging Russia and trailing only the United States and China.
The ranking, compiled by an international think tank that evaluates 140 countries, places India ahead of traditional heavyweights like Britain, France, and Japan.
But what truly determines a nation’s strength – bristling arsenals or bulging treasuries? The index says neither is alone. Instead, it uses a sophisticated 360-degree matrix: military might (troop strength, nuclear arsenal, indigenous platforms like Agni-VI and Tejas), economic muscle (GDP, forex reserves, manufacturing output), diplomatic clout (UN votes, G20 leadership, vaccine diplomacy), technological edge (space programs, 6G research, semiconductor push), and soft power (culture, diaspora, Bollywood reach).
India scored a stunning 84.6 out of 100, edging Russia (82.1), whose Ukraine quagmire drained resources and isolated it globally. China (92.8) and the US (95.4) remain untouchable, but India’s 12-notch jump since 2020 is the fastest ever recorded.
Defence analysts credit the rise to self-reliance milestones — 75% indigenous weapons by value, the world’s fourth-largest air force, and a tri-service theatre command structure. Economists point to sustained 7%+ growth, a $750 billion forex chest and the third-largest start-up ecosystem.
Diplomats highlight India’s balancing act between QUAD and BRICS and its decisive voice in climate and trade forums.
As tricolours fly higher on global masts, one message rings clear: modern power is no longer measured merely in warheads or wallets but in the ability to shape tomorrow. And India, unmistakably, is doing just that.