“Hele Verden vil være Venner med Indien” read the headlines of prominent Newspapers in Denmark, in May 2022 meaning “Everyone wants to be friends with India”. This reflects the importance of India in the World and the fact that this Century belongs to India.
Recently, in June 2022, the Indian PM was a special invitee at the G-7 Meet in Germany. It was a delightful sight to see President Joe Biden of the USA, walking up to shake hands and greet Modi. PM Modi has been getting a standing ovation and warm reception all over the globe, wherever he visits. The Charisma of leaders also matters but it’s the Prime Minister of India, whom everyone wants to meet.
Nation states do not become great just like that. They have to be baptized by fire and rise over the years, to be counted in the world forum. India’s enviable progress in the last 75 years since independence and exponential rise in the last decade has catapulted it onto the global center stage. Some of the strengths of this great nation, which qualify it for superpower status are flagged hereafter.
High resilience
The true character of individuals and nations is reflected in adversity and emergent times. The world has been excited about India and its perennially untapped potential in the past. India has amply proved its resilience in critical times. Just two examples showcase Indian excellence in disaster management.
COVID Management: When the COVID pandemic struck the world, wave after wave, India with a 135 Crore population, weathered the storm very well and managed to contain the damage better than developed nations. Thus, India is among the nations with the lowest percentage of infected persons and the lowest mortality rate, if one considers the entire population. Coronavirus has impacted the economy of each & every Country. The global economic order has been substantially altered. However, India has surprised the world with its V-shaped recovery.
Vaccination Drive: India is a shining example of efficient vaccine administration to the largest population in the world. The software developed by India to digitally manage the vaccination drive has proved to be the best in the world. Behaving like a responsible democratic nation-state, we have exported vaccines and lifesaving medicines to more than 100 countries of the world, including the USA. As the manufacturer of the majority of the world’s vaccines, India is better placed than many other developing countries to roll out the vaccines successfully and efficiently, every year.
Improving prosperity
International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s latest global projections predict the world economy to plunge into the worst recession, post-COVID. All developed countries will have negative growth including the USA and Europe. In such a situation, India holds a beacon of hope for the world. Listed below are some of the pointers which make India an emerging global economy.
Wealth Creation: It is the world’s sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). The IMF has projected a 7.5% growth rate for India in FY 2022-23, making India the fastest growing economy post-COVID. This growth trajectory will see India become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, only behind USA and China.
Market Mover: India, with a population of 135 Crores and a developing country with increasing per capita income, forms the biggest consumer market in the world. All the countries are tapping this vast consumer base and hence the relevance of India in the world market.
World Factory: Internationally, a clear trend has been emerging where major western MNCs are making strategic plans to move their supply chain and manufacturing out of China. India, with its rapidly improving infrastructure, cheap labor, educated employable youth and stable democratic Govt provides the best and most cost-effective alternative to China. India is now also poised to become the factory of the world.
Young India: India has the youngest population in the world, while China, Japan, and Europe have started graying. Also, India produces the largest no of graduates, every year. Further, the widely acknowledge demographic dividend, skillful and diligent youth of India is attracting the MNCs to set up bases in India. Indian intelligentsia is also making its mark in all countries, across the globe.
Digital Awareness: India has been leading the digital world in the BPO industry. Opening Global Capability Centers (GCC) by MNCs is neo-globalization. India is leading the same. 1400 MNCs have already set up GCC in India providing jobs to 1.3 million workforces and earning a revenue of $36 billion. India has also created 100 unicorns with valuations over one billion dollars. NASSCOM predicts another 40% increase in the next three years.
Food Deficient to Grain Basket of the world: India has taken giant leaps in improving the agriculture and dairy yield in the country. From being a food-grain importer in the 20th century back, in 2016, India produced a whopping 90 million tons of wheat, making it the second largest wheat producer in the world. Today, we are a net exporter of wheat, having exported 1.8 million tons of wheat to 12 countries of the world. It’s a matter of pride that we are also the largest producer of milk, pulses, and jute products and the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables, fruits, and cotton.
Military power
Indian Armed Forces have been the most effective instrument of national power: A strong, well-equipped and trained Army is essential for a nation having hawkish neighbors, with unsettled borders. The expenditure incurred on the Army, as “Force of Deterrence” should be taken as insurance for unhindered growth of the nation and never questioned. Let’s examine certain attributes of the Indian Armed Forces, which make them great-
Fourth Strongest Armed Forces: According to the recently released Global Firepower (GFP) Annual Defence Review, India’s military is the 4th most powerful with the strength of over 1.4 million active personnel; it is the world’s second-largest military force and has the world’s largest volunteer army. It also has the third-largest defense budget in the world. Indian Army has vast battle experience of fighting in all types of terrain and in counter-terrorist operations for the last four decades.
Third Best Indian Air Force (IAF): The Indian Air Force (IAF) ranks third on the World Air Power Index in terms of Fighting strength of different air force services of different countries. In 2022, the world directory of modern military Aircraft (WDMMA) placed the Indian Air Force in third place, above the Chinese Air force, or People’s Libertarian Army Air Force (PLAAF), the French Air and Space Power, and the Israeli Aviation Based Armed Forces.
Nuclear Power: India is established as a mature nuclear power with a stated ‘no first use policy. India is the 6th country in the world to build its very own nuclear submarine after the US, Russia, France, the UK, and China. This provides India with the second strike nuclear capability. The need for nuclear deterrence is well established in the Ukraine war this year.
Largest Buyer of War Equipment: India’s military spending in 2021 is the third highest in the world at $76.6 billion — behind the United States and China but ahead of the United Kingdom and Russia. India was the largest buyer of war-fighting machinery till 2021, giving it the leverage to swing the global order favorably.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: India is planning for indigenous manufacture of state-of-the-art war equipment for its use. We are also looking for the marketing of indigenous war machinery to developing countries. India’s defense exports have recorded nearly an eight-fold increase between 2017 and 2022, growing from 1,520 crore to 13000 crore. Defense items being exported by India include Brahmos missiles, Tejas fighter jets, the advanced light helicopter, offshore patrol vessels, personal protective gear, surveillance systems, and a variety of radars. Recent orders for Brahmos missiles and Tejas fighter aircraft are shining examples of the evolving defense production industry. As defense production increases its footprints across the globe, the private sector will have to be involved with technology transfer to friendly countries.
Soft power
India has been a rich ancient civilization and holds a long record of being a mature and stable democratic nation for 75 years. In recent times, India’s political and economic rise in the comity of nations has given new meanings to India’s soft power resources and its employment for protecting and promoting India’s interests. Some of the known indicators of Indian soft power are as follows-
- Great Indian Civilisation and cultural heritage.
- 75-year-old stable and mature largest democracy.
- Good record of environmental protection and saving the planet earth.
- India’s policy of helping other nations and peaceful co-existence.
- Exporter of knowledge, wisdom, and religious harmony.
- Indian dances and performing arts including Indian Cinema.
- The promoter of Wellness of body, mind, and soul.
- Pioneer in natural and organic supplements, yoga, and meditation.
- Diversity of Indian food and cuisine with liking world over.
- Indian diaspora of learned NRI, making their mark globally.
- India’s non-intrusive nature of soft power employment.
Charismatic leadership
India has waited for centuries for a rare opportunity to reclaim its status as a world leader. In order to catapult incredible India into the high pedestal of the superpower, charismatic leadership was required and we found that in the 21st Century. After PM Smt Indira Gandhi, India has probably found the right choice for the premier in Shri Narendra Modi. Today, every country wants to talk to India and keep India in its fold. Having excellent relations with all world leaders, PM Modi is emerging as the popular choice to mediate toward ending the Ukraine conflict. On Twitter, PM Modi is the second most followed political leader, after Former President Barrack Obama of the USA.
Conclusion
In the geopolitics of the 21st Century, India has carved a niche for itself. Indian EAM has rightly said that India is big enough to have its own views and not be part of any block. Though all power blocks want India on their side, because India matters to the world today, they have now accepted India’s stand of principled neutrality. The world now respects India’s decision-making as per its national interests.
India has all the right ingredients to become a global superpower. Its stature in the world forum is increasing. If India could manage its internal diversities and harness the contradictions with the NATION FIRST agenda and inclusive growth, 21st Century will belong to India.
