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India has increased its power within Asia. This strength has been measured not only on military but also on a total of 131 parameters including economic and political. An Australian think tank has placed India at third place in the Asia Power Index. In the first place is the country which does not come within Asia.
New Delhi. With increase in political and strategic power, India has now become the third most powerful country in Asia. The country has been ranked third in the Asia Power Index 2025 published by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank. However, despite increasing its strength, India has lagged far behind its neighbor China in this matter. China has got second place in this index. In the first place, there is a country which is not even a part of the Asian continent, yet its influence is maximum here. The United States has got the first place in the list.
The report says that India has now crossed the threshold that the Lowy Institute considers major power status. This means that from military capability to economic influence and diplomacy, India now stands firmly in the top list of the most influential countries in Asia. In this index, 27 countries are analyzed on 131 parameters. This includes everything from military, economic mind, diplomacy, cultural influence and future resources. America is still at number 1, China is at number two and this time India has taken a strong lead and strengthened the third position.
Strong lead in India’s power score
India’s overall score in 2025 has been 40, which is 2 percent better than last year. This growth has been seen due to India’s rapid economic recovery, growing relations with superpower countries and strong diplomatic role. Lowy Institute has clearly stated that India’s military capability has continuously improved and its geopolitical relevance has become greater than before. India’s hold in technology, connectivity and international leverage has also increased.
What was the situation of other Asian countries?
According to the index, America is at the top with a score of 81.7 and its hold in Asia is still considered to be the strongest. China achieved a score of 73.7 this year, which is proof of its growing influence and it is closing the gap with America. Russia’s power has also improved because it has increased defense and economic partnerships with countries like China and North Korea. Japan’s score did not change much but many countries in South-East Asia showed small but positive gains. The challenge before Australia is how it will maintain its strength in the long run.
After all, how is Asia Power Index decided?
The Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index does not just look at a country’s military strength, but also measures its overall influence. It has eight major categories which include Military, Economic Capability, Defense Network, Diplomatic Influence, Culture, Resilience, Future Resources and International Relations. There are a total of 131 indicators in all these categories. A country’s score tells us how influential it is in Asia, its position in its neighbourhood, its strength in trade and technology, and its potential for power growth in the future.
