NSI says India is the 5th most powerful nation in the world based up on five criterias

As a part of India's National Security Annual Review 2010, which will be officially released by foreign minister SM Krishna on April 19, the NSI 2010 placed India fifth in the hierarchy of top 50 nations identified on the basis of their GDP. The latest National Security Index (NSI) designed by the country's foremost security and economic experts rated India as the fifth most powerful and strong country in the world.

The Foundation for National Security Research director Satish Kumar, who edited the national security review, says the National Security Index(NSI) is based on an assessment of defence capability, economic strength, effective population, technological capability and energy security of the top 50 countries. The national security annual review governing body comprising a host of experts is headed by former foreign secretary M K Rasgotra. Out of the above five criteria, maximum weightage was given to defence capabilities at 30%. Economic strength, technology and effective population had weightage of 20% each. The remaining 10% weightage is for Energy security.

The US is at the top of the list on the basis of the above criteria followed by China, Japan and Russia. While South Korea emerged as the sixth most powerful nation followed by Norway, Germany, France and UK.

India is 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. US, China and Russia are ranked higher than India in defence capability. Where in economic strength, India ranked seventh.

China ranked first in the assessment of effective population and US is at the second position in effective population category. The calculation of effective population is on the basis of three variables -- size of population between 15 and 64, size of population educated up to secondary level and above and human development index based on UNDP reports. 

Norway's high position was attributed to its number one position in the field of energy security. The NSI said some of the most powerful countries in the world were not necessarily energy self-reliant. The weight given to various indicators in arriving at the above conclusions was based on judgment. According to the annual security review, a group of experts went over the indicators and their opinions were collated to arrive at the relative weightage given to indicators.