India is the fifth most powerful country in the world, says the latest national security index (NSI) designed by the country's foremost security and economic experts. The NSI 2010 placed India fifth in the hierarchy of top 50 nations identified on the basis of their GDP.
According to Foundation for National Security Research director Satish Kumar, who edited the national security review, the NSI is based on an assessment of defence capability, economic strength, effective population, technological capability and energy security of the top 50 countries. The US is at the top of the list on the basis of these criteria followed by China, Japan and Russia.
South Korea emerged as the sixth most powerful nation followed by Norway, Germany, France and UK.
While India ranked third in the case of population and fourth in terms of defence capabilities, it was at the 34th position in technology and 33rd in energy security. Only US, China and Russia are ranked higher than India in defence capability. In economic strength, India ranked seventh.
Out of the five criteria, maximum weightage was given to defence capabilities at 30%. Economic strength, technology and effective population had weightage of 20% each. Energy security had the remaining 10%. The national security annual review governing body, which comprises a host of experts, is headed by former foreign secretary M K Rasgotra.
On the likelihood of people raising eyebrows over India's extremely high rank, the NSI report said the strategic community in India will still take time to get used to India being such a powerful country. "Of course, the variable that helps India most is the size of its skilled working population. But that variable helps China to a great deal,'' it said.
FEEL GOOD FACTOR
Assessment based on defence capability, economic strength, effective population, technological capability and energy security of top 50 countries.
5th most powerful country in all, 3rd in terms of population, 4th on defence capabilities, 7th on economic strength, 33rd on energy security, 34th on technology. US on top, followed by China, Japan & Russia India is trailed by S Korea, Norway, Germany, France & UK
