Asia Power Index:
India ranked third in the annual Asia Power Index, released by an Australian think tank.
- Asia Power Index was launched by the Lowy Institute in 2018.
- It is an annual measure of power dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.
- It evaluates 27 countries across the Asia-Pacific, examining their ability to shape and respond to the external environment.
- The Index focuses on both the material capabilities of states and the influence they exert on the international stage.
- The 2024 edition offers one of the most comprehensive assessments of power distribution in the region to date. Timor-Leste has been included for the first time, reflecting its growing importance in Southeast Asia.
- It index is divided into resource-based and influence-based determinants
- The core economic strength of a country, measured through indicators like GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP), technological sophistication, and global economic connectivity.
- Evaluates conventional military strength based on defense spending, armed forces, weapon systems, and signature capabilities like long-range power projection
- The internal capacity to deter threats to state stability, including institutional robustness, geopolitical security, and resource security.
- Forecasts the future distribution of resources, including economic, military, and demographic factors projected for 2035.
- The capacity to exercise leverage through trade, investment, and economic diplomacy.
- The strength of alliances and partnerships, measured through military cooperation and arms transfers.
- The extent of a country’s diplomatic reach, participation in multilateral forums, and foreign policy ambition.
- The ability to shape international public opinion through cultural exports, media, and people-to-people ties.
- A country’s overall power score is derived from a weighted average of these eight measures, encompassing 131 individual indicators.
