It depends hugely on how you define what a superpower does!! If GDP growth itself is considered as a sole indicator, then we are on a great trajectory. But isn’t that taking a very myopic view of what a superpower is or does!! Where are we in terms of Human Development Index. I will tell you where..we are the 135th country out of 166 countries, the Democracy Index has slated us to be a “flawed democracy”, the Legatum prosperity index puts India at 102, out of 142 countries…we rank 85th in the Corruption perception index by Transparency International, out of 175 countries…
My objective in listing out these parameters is not to malign the achievements that India has made or is currently aspiring to achieve!! I am however deeply skeptical of the rhetoric that we are en-route to being a superpower country!! I believe we need to first lay down the criteria that differentiates superpowers and then see where we stand on those parameters!! That should be the crux of any fruitful debate!!
