The New International/World Order: Growing Role of India:

India's emerging role in the new world order is envisioned through its leading capacity in diverse
political systems, cultural traditions, and economic interests. Consequently, India has adopted a
multi-alignment policy framework by actively engaging with groups such as the G20, BRICS, BIMSTEC,
and the SCO and seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. India's evolving role is
apparent in its efforts to challenge the hegemonic liberal order and propose alternative institutional
structures such as the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB). The Five-S" framework-- Samman (Respect), Samvad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti
(Peace), and Samriddhi (Prosperity)—reiterates India's values and decisiveness for global reforms and
for maintaining the world order (External Affairs Minister, 2020). Simultaneously, India has expressed
keen interest in promoting solutions to address critical security threats, including terrorism financing,
cyber risks, and the misuse of digital information platforms by both state and non-state actors.

The foundation of India's emerging role can be traced to independence. This is demonstrated by
India's ongoing efforts to reshape its foreign policy while considering both national interests and
global dynamics. For instance, at the time of independence, India's objective was to collectively resist
the diluting effect on sovereignty and assert its autonomy, and therefore, India has been actively till
date leading the Non-Alignment movement.

However, due to shifts in circumstances such as the 1962 war, India exhorted the use of hard power
to secure its national interest and asserted the requirement of the military to secure its position in
the global arena.

As the world transitioned from a unipolar to a multipolar globalised world, India gradually acquired
the attributes of a balancing power. India's policy of non-alignment evolved into multi-alignment.
Initiatives such as SAGAR, Act East, Think West, and Vaccine diplomacy have enabled India as a
leader rooted in the principles of cooperation. By establishing de-hyphenated relations among
nations, India has affirmed its stance of strategic autonomy, especially amidst the volatility that is
being experienced globally.

India's successful trajectory in the international world has been possible due to the cooperation and
stability of the internal factors. The internal intuitional factors are deeply embedded in the nation's
inherited biases, its historical narrative, the political circumstances surrounding the advantages of a
specific decision at a given time, ethnicity, territory, citizenship, and representation (Abraham, 1992)

To ensure India's persistent influence on the international order, India must enhance its state
capacity, that is, the role of institutions such as economic and industrial strength, political and
internal stability, and culture reflecting its stature on the world stage.

The objective of this paper is to explore the multifaceted aspects, ranging from political, economic,
military, and domestic resilience dimensions, that India must address to sustain its emerging position
in the new world order.

To illustrate a few:

Economic Power:

India's economic stability enables strong global engagement, with its non-financial sector debt at a
manageable 175% of GDP, notably lower than Advanced Economies (265%) and Emerging Markets
(222%) as of September 2023. India's economy is pristinely recording growth of 7% and is projected
to grow at or above 7% for FY25. (Srivastava, 2024). However, despite the increase in GDP growth,
monthly incomes have changed a little, close to being insignificant over the past six years due to the
incessant rise in inflation, which is above the RBI's target of 4% since 2019. Similarly, India's Labor
Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is 40%, which is lower than the global average of 60%. (Misra, 2022)

Political and Domestic Stability:

Amidst the growing conflicts across the world, India is known for its stability and safety that it
accords to its citizens. As per the Global Peace Index 2.319/5, indicating a considerable aspect of
safety and stability (Gupta, 2024). However, the increasing concern of political polarisation in the
country and regional violence and conflict witnessed in certain parts of the country significantly
inhibit India's commitment and credibility in securing and leading a stable world order. The areas of
instability within India, whether due to regional conflicts, ethnic tensions, or social unrest, can
significantly impact the country's global image.

Hard Power:

India's military is one of the most renowned, with its impressive ranking of 4th in the world. With a
total military strength of 5,137,550 (personnel), India showcases substantial military strength with a
power index of 0.1025, exhibiting exceptional defence infrastructure and capabilities (Gupta, 2024).
However, the Indian army has continued to be manpower intensive; with the unfolding necessity of
modern warfare, the Indian army needs to revamp its functioning. The budget allocated to defence is
2.4% of the GDP, out of which the majority goes towards revenue expenditure (Gupta, 2024). There
is a need to increase the capital procurement of the army for its upgradation.

Soft Power:

On similar accounts, India's remarkable soft power has gained the nation worldwide recognition.
India's culture has been globally acknowledged, whether it's the ancient heritage of yoga and
Ayurveda or the modern-day cinematic culture. As a result, India has successfully attracted tourists
across the globe, leading to a 6.33 million (2020) annual growth rate. However, India's soft power is
maximized mainly in the Western world, as in South Asia, the diaspora is more than eight lakhs, but
due attention and importance have not been given to them. This is evidenced by the maximum
number of recipients of the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award (PBSA) from the West. 2019, out of 30
PBSA awards, only one recipient was from South Asia. (Kumar, 2023)

To conclude, the paper aims to assess and explore how India's internal environment and diversity
shape its foreign policy strategies, global alliances, and diplomatic narratives. In the face of a rapidly
evolving international landscape, the objective is to understand the role played by internal
institutions and their subsequent impact concerning India's positioning within the new world order
and its potential to lead as a democratic entity.

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