India has taken a big step forward on the global stage. The country has climbed to the third spot in the latest Asia Power Index by the Lowy Institute, officially earning the tag of a “major power.” This jump comes after India’s strong performance in Operation Sindoor, which played a key role in boosting its military assessment.
The United States and China continue to hold the top two places as ‘superpowers’. In comparison, India was ranked as a ‘middle power’ in 2024 with a score of 38.1. This year, India improved to 40/100, moving ahead of Japan (38.8) and Russia (32.1).
Even with this progress, the gap with China remains large, as China has 73.7 points, while the US leads with 80.5 points.
What improved India’s ranking?
The report highlights two major strengths:
1. Growing economic influence
India has climbed to 9th place in economic relationships, driven by a strong rise in foreign investment. The study even says India has now overtaken China as the country receiving the most inward investment after the US.
- Steady rise in military capability
Experts have given better ratings to India’s defence strength this year. The Lowy Institute says Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, added valuable combat experience and positively influenced India’s military appraisal.
Where India slipped
The only major setback was in defence networks, where India dropped to 11th position, falling behind the Philippines and Thailand.
Big picture
The report concludes that India’s improving military experience and strong economic momentum have clearly boosted its regional influence. At the same time, the country still needs to strengthen defence partnerships to close the gap with bigger powers.
Overall, the 2025 Asia Power Index paints a confident picture of India rising fast on the global stage — with more room to grow and more power to gain.
