India Becomes Third-Largest Power in Asia, Surpassing Japan
New Delhi [India], September 25: India has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest power in the Asia Power Index, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This achievement is driven by India’s dynamic growth, youthful population, and expanding economy, solidifying its position as a leading force in the region.
The Asia Power Index, launched by the Lowy Institute in 2018, is an annual measure of power dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. It evaluates 27 countries across the Asia-Pacific, examining their ability to shape and respond to the external environment. One of the most significant findings in the 2024 Asia Power Index is India’s steady rise in the regional power rankings.
The key factors behind India’s rise include its remarkable post-pandemic economic recovery, contributing to a 4.2-point rise in its Economic Capability. India’s massive population and strong GDP growth reinforce its standing as the world’s third-largest economy in PPP terms. Additionally, India’s Future Resources score increased by 8.2 points, signalling a potential demographic dividend.
Unlike its regional competitors, particularly China and Japan, India benefits from a youthful population that will continue to drive economic growth and labour force expansion in the coming decades. The index also highlighted India’s increasing role in multilateral diplomacy and regional security. India’s leadership in the Quad and participation in various regional dialogues have allowed it to exert influence in security matters without formal military alliances.
The Asia Power Index evaluates countries based on eight core measures, divided into resource-based and influence-based determinants. These include Economic Capability, Military Capability, Resilience, Future Resources, Economic Relationships, Defense Networks, Diplomatic Influence, and Cultural Influence. India’s strong performance across these categories highlights its growing role as a major power in the region.
Doubts Revealed
Asia Power Index -: The Asia Power Index is a ranking system that measures the power of countries in Asia. It looks at things like economy, military, and how strong a country is in different areas.
Lowy Institute -: The Lowy Institute is a research organization in Australia. They study and provide information about international issues and how countries interact with each other.
geopolitical influence -: Geopolitical influence means how much a country can affect other countries and global events. It’s like being a big player in a game where countries make important decisions.
regional security -: Regional security means keeping a specific area, like Asia, safe and stable. It involves making sure there are no big conflicts or dangers in that region.
Economic Capability -: Economic Capability is about how strong and big a country’s economy is. It looks at things like how much money the country makes and how well it can support its people.
Military Capability -: Military Capability is about how strong a country’s army, navy, and air force are. It looks at things like the number of soldiers and the quality of weapons.
Resilience -: Resilience means how well a country can handle problems and bounce back from them. It’s like being strong and able to recover quickly from bad situations.
