India's Status in Asia Power Index-2025
India has reached the status of a "major power" in the Asia Power Index-2025, driven by economic growth and military capability, as highlighted by the Australia-based think tank, Lowy Institute.
Rankings and Scores
- India is ranked third on the index with a score of 40 points.
- The United States holds the top position with 80.5 points, followed by China at 73.7 points.
- Japan ranks fourth with 38.8 points.
Economic and Military Capabilities
- India ranks third in both economic capability and future resources.
- India's rank in economic capability improved by overtaking Japan.
- Inward investment increased India's ranking to ninth in economic relationships.
Military Performance
India's military capability has shown steady improvement.
- The improvement is attributed to expert appraisals influenced by India's performance in Operation Sindoor (May 2025).
Challenges and Gaps
- India's weakest area is defence networks, ranking 11th.
- Its score in defence networks declined, overtaken by the Philippines and Thailand.
- There is a significant negative Power Gap score due to the divergence between expected power and actual influence.
Investment and Geopolitical Factors
India overtakes China as the second most attractive destination for inward investment after the USA.
- This shift is influenced by geopolitical factors, diversification of supply chains, and India's attractiveness as an investment destination.
