India Launches ‘Responsible Nations Index (RNI)’: A Global Framework Measuring Responsibility Beyond Power and Prosperity

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India today marked a significant intellectual and policy achievement with the formal launch of the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC), New Delhi, under the aegis of the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF). This index evaluates nations not solely on the basis of economic power or geopolitical influence, but on their responsibility towards their citizens, the environment, and the international community.

The Honourable Former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the keynote address. In his address, he emphasized ethical governance, inclusive development, and moral responsibility as essential for a sustainable national and global future.

The event witnessed the distinguished presence of policymakers, jurists, economists, academics, diplomats, and leading representatives from various institutions, reflecting the multi-faceted and global nature of the RNI.

A Three-Year Intellectual and Policy Endeavor Rooted in India

The Responsible Nations Index is the culmination of a three-year intensive academic and policy exercise conceived and developed by the World Intellectual Foundation. Inspired by India's civilizational traditions—Dharma, balance, and global well-being—this index offers a new perspective on the global discourse on nations, progress and leadership.

Leading academic institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai played a crucial role in strengthening its intellectual foundations, analytical framework, and methodology.

High-Level Academic and Global Perspective

Prior to the formal launch, an expert panel discussion was held on the theme “From Human Well-being to Global Stewardship: Rethinking Responsibility, Prosperity, and Peace in the 21st Century,” chaired by Shri N. K. Singh, Chairman, 15th Finance Commission, India. The panel included the following distinguished economists and scholars:

Ms. Prachi Mishra, Professor of Economics and Director, Isaac Centre for Public Policy, Ashoka University.

Dr. Lavesh Bhandari, President and Senior Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP).

Mr. Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist, Axis Bank and Head – Global Research, Axis Capital.

The formal inaugural session featured addresses by the following dignitaries:

Prof. Santishree D. Pandit, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Prof. Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai.

Prof. Edouard Husson, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Paris, who also presented the key intellectual takeaways from the closed-door high-level expert roundtable held earlier in the day.

Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, who highlighted the objectives of the World Intellectual Foundation and the broader significance of the RNI.

A New Approach to Global Responsibility

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sudhanshu Mittal, Founder and Secretary, World Intellectual Foundation, said that the RNI represents a fundamental shift in the approach to evaluating nations.

 “The Responsible Nations Index asks a simple yet profound question—how responsibly does a nation wield its power? Prosperity without responsibility cannot be sustainable. The RNI encourages ethical governance, human development, and responsible global stewardship,” he said.

The event concluded with the formal launch of the Responsible Nations Index report, which the World Intellectual Foundation described as the beginning of a long-term global dialogue on responsible nationhood in the 21st century.

About the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF)

The World Intellectual Foundation is a global think tank committed to promoting ethical leadership, responsible governance, and a sustainable global future through rigorous research, dialogue, and institutional collaboration.