70% opinion leaders see India as major global power in two decades: Survey

Nearly 70% of India's policymakers, business leaders, academics and strategic experts believe the country will emerge as a major global power within the next two decades, while three out of four support an India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to a nationwide survey released on Wednesday.

The survey, titled Navigating India's Role: Perspectives on Security, Geopolitics and Trade, was conducted by Rajneethi in association with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom-India and Kalinga Kusum Foundation. It covered 1,396 policymakers, business executives, academics, media professionals and strategic experts across the country, a press release said.

The findings were discussed at a conclave in Bengaluru titled India's Path to Global Power: What Roles India Seeks to Play in the World.


The survey found that India's global aspirations remain closely linked to domestic priorities. About 44% of respondents said economic growth and trade partnerships should be the primary objective of foreign policy, while 33% said India's growing global influence should be leveraged to drive domestic prosperity.

Employment, education, poverty alleviation and pollution were identified as more pressing concerns than external security threats, the release added.

The study also pointed to the support for a multipolar approach to global engagement. While 89% of respondents identified the United States as the world's leading technological power, more than 80% viewed Russia as India's most reliable strategic partner. Over 90% acknowledged China's economic and technological strengths, although many also regarded it as a key strategic competitor.

The European Union emerged as one of India's preferred long-term partners. Nearly 75% backed an India-EU FTA, with respondents identifying trade, technology, manufacturing, climate cooperation and innovation as key areas for deeper engagement.

Around 80 experts and opinion leaders from public policy, governance, academia and industry participated in the conclave. Speakers included former Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Gowda, urban expert Ashwin Mahesh, Friedrich Naumann Foundation India project director Stefan Schott and Jain University adviser S Madheswaran.

Gowda said Bengaluru possessed the research and intellectual capital needed to contribute to India's expanding role in global affairs. Schott said India's economic trajectory could make it the world's third-largest economy by the end of the decade.

Mahesh said geopolitical positions in democracies should reflect citizens' aspirations, while Madheswaran said the debate was no longer whether India would emerge as a major power, but at what pace.