India surpasses Japan and Russia, becomes the world’s third-largest power; Pakistan not even in the top 15

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Australia’s prestigious Lowy Institute has released its annual Asia Power Index 2025, bringing proud news for India. In the strength assessment of 27 Asian countries, India has made a significant jump and overtaken powerful nations like Japan and Russia. According to the report, India has now emerged as the world’s third-largest power with a score of 40.0, officially earning its position in the “Major Power” category.

This ranking is based on an in-depth evaluation of eight key areas, including military capability, economic strength, diplomatic influence, and cultural reach.

The report states that India’s remarkable rise is driven by its strong economic growth and expanding military capabilities. However, the Lowy Institute notes that India’s diplomatic and economic influence still does not fully match its actual potential. This indicates that India has immense room to grow in the coming years and is becoming a strong challenger to China’s dominance in Asia.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has fallen significantly behind in this race. It has slipped out of the top 10 and now stands at the 16th position.

Globally, only the United States and China have been given the status of “Super Powers.” The US remains at the top with a score of 80.5, though this is its lowest score since the index began in 2018—reflecting its declining influence in Asia. Analysts attribute this drop to policy decisions made during the Trump administration. China, ranked second with 73.7 points, is steadily closing its gap with the US.

After India, Japan has moved down to fourth place, and Russia to fifth, with both now classified as “Middle Powers.”