🇮🇳 Historic Shift: India Declared ‘Major Power’ in Asia After Operation Sindoor Success
Lowy Institute Ranks India Third Globally, Citing Military Confidence and Overtaking China as Top Investment Destination
In a landmark assessment that underscores its rapidly expanding global role, the Australia-based Lowy Institute has officially designated India as a “Major Power” in the Asia Power Index 2025. This historic designation comes as India’s Comprehensive Power Score crossed the 40-point threshold for the first time, securing the third rank globally, behind only the United States and China. The achievement solidifies the narrative of a rising India, with the Lowy Institute attributing the leap to a decisive blend of military confidence and economic dynamism, marking the new era of India Major Power Lowy Index recognition.
Operation Sindoor: The Catalyst for Military Confidence
The single biggest factor influencing the expert appraisal of India’s military capabilities was its performance during Operation Sindoor (launched in May 2025). The operation, which demonstrated India’s enhanced capacity for high-precision, strategic counter-terror strikes and effective escalation control, added valuable recent combat experience to its defence profile.
The Lowy Institute noted that this strategic success boosted India’s Military Capability score, highlighting a growing confidence in India’s operational sophistication and its “moral clarity” to act firmly yet responsibly. This success validated years of defence modernization and indigenous development, pushing the nation past its previous “Middle Power” categorization.
Economic Heft and Investment Magnetism
Beyond defence, the economic engine remains a core driver of India’s ascent. The report credits India’s strong post-pandemic economic growth and notes a key geopolitical shift: for the first time, India has overtaken China to become the second-most attractive destination for inward investment in Asia, trailing only the US.
This influx of capital is driven by global supply chain diversification and India’s strengthening economic fundamentals, allowing the nation to rank third globally in both Economic Capability and Future Resources (which includes demographics and technological potential). The rise of India Major Power Lowy Index status underscores the fact that global capital views India as a stable and compelling alternative.
The Power Gap: Converting Capability to Influence
Despite these massive gains, the report highlights a significant challenge: the “Power Gap.” India’s resources are rising faster than its measurable regional influence. Its weakest area remains Defence Networks, where its ranking declined. The institute suggests that while India’s policy of “strategic autonomy” is principled, it has not yet fully translated its vast capabilities into proportional strategic influence, particularly when measured against China’s overwhelming regional presence. Nonetheless, the 2025 ranking confirms that India Major Power Lowy Index status is a reality, signalling that the nation’s potential is rapidly converging with its performance.