India ranks 16th among 154 countries on the Responsible Nations Index
- IBEF
- January 20, 2026
India has gained a significant international position by ranking 16th out of 154 countries in the first-ever Responsible Nations Index (RNI), a new international yardstick developed to measure how countries use their power responsibly in relation to their citizens, the environment, and the world at large. The framework of the index was launched in New Delhi by the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF) based in Delhi, and it relies on the most widely accepted international data sources, such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the World Justice Project to measure the behaviour of nations in three dimensions: internal responsibility, environmental responsibility, and international behaviour. Singapore led the list, followed by Switzerland and Denmark, which ranked before India.
The Responsible Nations Index (RNI) points out that economic power does not necessarily lead to sound national conduct, as many developing countries perform better than their richer counterparts in core areas such as social justice, protection of the environment, and support for peace. China ranked 68th and the United States 66th, indicating that economic or military power does not necessarily lead to sound global responsibility rankings. In the case of India, the high ranking indicates progress in the areas of healthcare, social equity, environmental policies, and people-centered governance, but also points to the areas where the country still needs to focus to achieve sustainable and balanced growth.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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