India is considered the next potential superpower based on several indicators such as its demography, fast-growing economy, and expanding military. But before it can become a superpower, the country needs to overcome many social, economic, and political problems. In addition, the government also needs to build its influence on the international stage compared to present superpowers. 

Favorable Factors:

Advantage of location:

The position of India plays a strategic role in its development. The southern region is the anchor point for the Afro Asia trade route. Furthermore, India is rich in natural resources due to its vast land area and it can produce energy in various forms. Due to the present climatic conditions, most countries are shifting towards renewable energy. India is located in a sunny tropical region, and the presence of large water bodies in the south helps in the production of solar energy and tidal energy, respectively. India is also rich in uranium, a radioactive element and the main element in energy production in nuclear power plants. 

Demography:

 India holds the second rank in the world population, and nearly 50% of its population is under the age of 25, thus providing it with a large workforce. Furthermore, 17.5 million Indians are located across the globe, indirectly supporting the Indian economy. The Indian population is one of the largest English speaking and understanding populations. A large part of the workforce are engineers, doctors, and other essential professionals who are comfortable speaking English, one of the most used languages in the world. 

Economy:

 India holds the fifth position in terms of the largest economy in terms of real GDP after the USA, Republic of China, Japan and Germany. India started its economic growth in 2003, leaving behind many other emerging economies. According to the data of 2019  provided by the World Economic Forum, India overtook China and became the fastest growing economy giving the necessary boost towards being the next superpower.

Military:

Indian defense organizations are divided into two branches: the core Military of India and the Indian paramilitary force. As of 2022, India maintains one of the largest active-duty forces with 1,455,550 active personnel. India has the 3rd most powerful airforce and has been developing fifth-generation stealth aircraft. India occupies the ninth position in terms of the largest Navy. The Indian army has sophisticated missile capable warships, aircraft carriers, and advanced submarines. Apart from this, India has its missile development system, which possesses the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Unfavorable Factors:

Political issues:

India, the largest democracy in the world, faces various political issues. Any political move involves the consideration of interests of the people. Some people believe that India being a vast democracy imposes a huge strain on its economy. However, it is predicted that India will have the upper hand over its non-democratic competitors in the long run. Since India shares a large boundary with many countries, it faces boundary disputes with Pakistan (LOC) and China (LAC). Due to this reason, India spends a massive amount of its defense budget in maintaining peace in those disputed areas. In the future, India needs to resolve the border dispute to promote its development.

Economy:

Being the second-largest populated country, India faces unemployment issues. According to the World Bank, 2018 data shows that approximately 50% of the workforce are in the agricultural sector, different from other developed economies such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Furthermore, data published in 2019 suggests that 6.9% of the Indian population lives below the country’s poverty level of $1.25 a day. Many parts of India also lack proper infrastructure such as roads, power grids, water, communication systems, and housing. 

Social issues:

The Indian population is a diverse mix of religion and races. The majority are Hindus, followed by Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and many more. Although in Indian history, it has been observed that the people had tolerance on issues related to religious matters, in the present condition, most of the conflicts occur because of the different religious points of view, which destroys the stability of the country. All these factors are holding India back from being the next superpower. 

India holds a special position in many people’s heart because of its traditions and richness of culture but needs improvements on economic, social, and political matters. As mentioned earlier, India's large population and military power make the country deserving of respect. For a long time, the USA acted as the big brother of all nations, but it should be noted that India's huge and growing economy can lead the country towards the title of Superpower. It seems very difficult to become a superpower, but not impossible. A good road map with full clarity and a well-organized political party can make it happen.