India has been ranked as the third most powerful country in the Asia Power Index 2024, according to a report by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri credited this achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s “visionary leadership,” highlighting the significant diplomatic strides and global influence India has garnered under his tenure.
The Asia Power Index evaluates countries based on several factors, including economic capability, military strength, diplomatic influence, and future resources. India’s rise to the third spot, behind only the United States and China, is seen as a result of a robust diplomatic strategy and Modi’s ability to reshape India’s global standing. Puri emphasized that this progress is not a coincidence but a testament to the aggressive international engagement fostered by PM Modi. India’s notable improvements in categories like diplomatic influence and economic capability have been crucial to its ascent.
The Lowy Institute’s report also notes that while China’s influence is beginning to plateau, India is gaining momentum, bolstered by its demographic advantages and expanding global footprint. Puri further stated that under Modi’s leadership, India is poised to become the “kingmaker of Asia,” a sentiment echoed by the report’s findings. Critics have been challenged by Puri to observe the facts: India’s trajectory is unmistakably upward, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting that India will be the world’s third-largest economy by 2027.
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This ranking underscores India’s growing influence in the region and its potential to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Asia. Puri’s statements also mark a sharp critique of past governments, noting that previous indecisive leadership left India behind, whereas Modi’s tenure has propelled the nation toward becoming a global power