Forever rising, never arriving? India’s great-power quest

From an International Relations perspective, the article underscores the return of realpolitik and hard power in shaping the global order. The post-Cold War optimism regarding globalization and institutions has faded, replaced by sharpening US-China rivalry and the weaponization of technology and trade. The author employs the concept of middle powers versus great powers, noting that while India's leadership rejects the 'middle power' label, objective metrics—industrial strength, global military reach, and technological leadership—place it behind the US and China. The analysis suggests that demographic challenges and the concentration of advanced technologies in existing superpowers make it increasingly difficult for latecomers from the Global South to achieve true great-power status. For UPSC, this provides critical arguments for essays or GS2 questions on India's evolving role in a multipolar world and the realistic constraints on its foreign policy ambitions.

The economic lens reveals a widening gap between India's geopolitical ambitions and its material foundations. While India is on track to become the world's third-largest economy in aggregate GDP, the article emphasizes that true power requires depth in manufacturing, high per capita income, and significant investment in research and development (R&D). India's per capita income remains low (below $3,000), and its reliance on imported military technology highlights a vulnerability in its military-industrial complex. Furthermore, the author points out that productivity growth has slowed and the next wave of structural reforms has stalled. This is highly relevant for GS3, illustrating how domestic economic weaknesses—including a lack of necessary skills in the young demographic—directly limit India's strategic autonomy and capacity to project power internationally.

From a governance perspective, the article argues that domestic political and social cohesion are prerequisites for international influence. The author identifies deepening political polarization, the resurgence of 'feudal and pre-modern forces,' and growing strains on democratic institutions as significant threats to India's rise. A fragmented society struggles to build the consensus needed for long-term strategic planning and painful economic reforms. To achieve great-power status, the article contends that India must focus on the 'unfinished business' of social modernization and boosting national unity. This connects to GS2 topics concerning the role of domestic politics in shaping foreign policy and the importance of strong, inclusive institutions in mobilizing human capital for national development.