Asia Power Index: India reaches 'major power' status; Operation Sindoor boosts military rankings

NEW DELHI: India has secured third rank in the Asia Power Index, gaining the status of 'major power.' India secured this ranking in the Lowy Institute study based on its performance in Operation Sindoor.

The first two ranks of 'superpowers' were retained by the United States and China, respectively.




In 2024, India was ranked among the 'middle powers,' with a comprehensive score of 38.1, whereas in this year's reports, India scored 40 out of 100. It stands ahead of Japan and Russia, which hold the fourth and fifth positions, scoring 38.8 and 32.1, respectively. However, the nation still sees a large aspirational gap as compared to China, which has 73.7 points on the index. The US topped the rankings with 80.5 points.

As per the detailed assessments, India's rank is backed by its growth in terms of economic and military capabilities. Notably, India rose to ninth place in economic relationships, driven by increases in inward investment.

The Lowy Institute said the modest advances in India’s geopolitical relevance were measured through international connectivity, leverage, and technological development. It also highlighted India's military capabilities to have grown steadily.

"For the most part, these gains were from improved expert appraisals of its capability, which were likely influenced by India's performance in Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, which added to India's recent combat experience," the institute said.

India saw its sharpest decline in terms of defence networks, dropping its rank to 11th position. It dropped two ranks lower as compared to the 2024 rankings, which were overtaken by the Philippines and Thailand.

According to the index, India overtook China as the country attracting the most inward investment after the United States, an indicator capturing 10-year cumulative flows.

Overall, the institute concludes that India’s recent military experience and economic momentum have strengthened its regional standing, even as challenges persist in building defence partnerships.

The Australia-based think tank study assesses a nation's ability to influence its external environment among the power states in Asia.
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