India’s rise is driven by strong post-COVID economic recovery, expanding international partnerships, and an increasingly visible cultural footprint…reports Asian Lite News
India has reaffirmed its status as a major power in Asia, climbing steadily in the Asia Power Index 2025 released by the Australia-based Lowy Institute. Ranked third among 27 countries, India achieved an overall score of 40.0 out of 100, crossing the significant benchmark for major power status.
The score reflects a 0.9-point, or 2 percent, increase compared with the previous edition, highlighting India’s consistent rise in influence and capability across multiple domains.
The Asia Power Index evaluates nations on eight thematic measures, including military capability, defence networks, economic capability and relationships, diplomatic influence, cultural influence, resilience, and future resources. The seventh edition of the Index underscores India’s broad-based growth and strategic momentum in the Indo-Pacific, while reaffirming the United States and China as the leading powers, with scores of 81.7 and 73.7, respectively.
According to the Lowy Institute, India’s rise is driven by strong post-COVID economic recovery, expanding international partnerships, and an increasingly visible cultural footprint. The report highlights India’s improvement in economic capability, which now surpasses Japan for the first time in the Index’s history. India’s growing trade diversification, higher inward investment, and increased integration into regional markets have propelled it into third place for economic capability. The country’s economic relationships, reflecting its connectivity and influence across Asia, have also strengthened, moving India to ninth place in this metric.
Cultural influence remains one of India’s standout gains, with the Index recording a +2.8 increase year-on-year. The growth reflects the rising global visibility of Indian cinema, technology, digital diplomacy, and other soft-power avenues. Military capability has improved by +2.8, while diplomatic influence and economic capability have seen incremental gains of +0.5 and +1.0, respectively. These improvements collectively signify India’s evolution into a strategic and economic heavyweight in the region.
The Lowy Institute report also introduces the concept of the “Power Gap,” which measures the difference between a country’s potential and actual influence. While India’s gap persists, analysts see it as an area of future opportunity rather than a limitation, noting that the country’s trajectory remains strongly positive. By consolidating gains across multiple dimensions, India is positioning itself as a central power capable of shaping regional outcomes and participating in major strategic dialogues.
In comparison, China maintains second place with a score of 73.7, slightly narrowing the margin with the United States. Russia, for the first time since 2019, shows signs of resurgence, strengthening defence and economic partnerships with nations including North Korea and China. Japan retains a steady position despite minor declines in several metrics, while Southeast Asian countries record small but measurable improvements. Australia, however, faces long-term challenges in maintaining relative power in the region, even as it continues to engage in regional partnerships.
Experts emphasise that India’s rise is multidimensional. Its military advancements, particularly in technology integration and networked capabilities, complement its economic and diplomatic growth. The Index notes that India’s global reach and ability to influence regional and global affairs are steadily improving, giving it greater leverage in multilateral forums and strategic negotiations.
The Index’s findings underscore India’s potential to assume a leading role in shaping Asia’s geopolitical and economic landscape. Lowy Institute analysts suggest that India’s strategic and cultural influence, combined with resilient economic performance, positions it to play an increasingly decisive role in regional stability and growth.
“The 2025 edition of the Asia Power Index shows India’s gains across economic, military, and cultural measures. Its trajectory reflects a country not only recovering from past challenges but steadily building momentum toward becoming a central power in the Indo-Pacific,” the report notes.
India’s continued ascent signals a renewed confidence in its strategic capabilities, emphasizing the nation’s growing importance in shaping Asia’s balance of power. With steady progress across key domains, India now sits firmly among the continent’s major powers, reaffirming its role as a critical actor in regional and global affairs.
