Archive · 2 Feb 2026
Economic Survey Highlights India's Power Gap
The Economic Survey 2025-26 talks about something called the Power Gap Index.
This index shows how powerful countries are in Asia.
India has a low score of -4.0, which means it's not using all its power as well as it could.
The index looks at things like money, military, and how countries influence others.
Japan does well with a high score, while North Korea has a low score because it's isolated.
The survey also mentions another index, the Global Soft Power Index, where the United States is first and India is 32nd.
This shows how countries are seen around the world.
The Power Gap Index is derived from the Asia Power Index, which measures eight aspects of power, including economic and military capabilities.
India's power gap score is -4.0, the lowest in Asia, indicating it is not fully utilizing its strategic potential.
The index includes both resource-based measures (what countries have) and influence-based measures (what countries do with what they have).
Japan has a high power gap score of 11.3, showing efficient use of resources to wield influence.
The Global Soft Power Index 2026 ranks countries based on their ability to shape international preferences and behaviors, with the United States at the top and India at 32nd.
- Who
- The Lowy Institute, an Australia-based think tank, and the Economic Survey 2025-26.
- What
- The Power Gap Index and its implications for India's strategic potential.
- When
- The data is from the recently released Economic Survey 2025-26.
- Where
- The analysis focuses on Asia, with India's power gap score being the lowest in the region, excluding Russia and North Korea.
- Why
- To understand how India is operating below its full strategic potential due to geopolitical and strategic factors.
- Power Gap Index
- A secondary analysis derived from the Asia Power Index, measuring the interplay between resources and influence.
- India's Power Gap Score
- -4.0, the lowest in Asia, excluding Russia and North Korea.
- Asia Power Index
- An annual index produced by the Australia-based Lowy Institute.
- Measures of Power
- Eight measures, including economic capability, military capability, resilience, future resources, economic relationships, defence networks, diplomatic influence, and cultural influence.
- Global Soft Power Index 2026
- Ranks 193 UN member states across 55 metrics, with the United States at the top and India at 32nd.