由於擁有龐大的人口數量以及其快速增長的經濟和軍事領域，使印度通常被認為是一個新興的力量[ 1] [ 2] 潜在超级大国 。隨著印度军事实力的成长 ，印度已經擁有核武器、洲際彈道導彈、兩艘航空母艦，而且還成為全球第四個成功開發彈道導彈防禦系統（印度彈道導彈防禦系統計劃 ）的國家。
在太空領域上印度也有著不少成就，例如它的月船1號 和火星軌道探測器 兩個太空探測器項目，都顯示印度正一步一步努力邁向世界大國之列。
從公元一年開始根據安格斯·麥迪森的預測的多個經濟體主要對世界GDP的貢獻[ 3] 根據一些學者[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] 经济史 學家安格斯·麦迪森 （Angus Maddison）在他所著的《世界經濟千年史》中所說，從公元 一至一千年 印度曾經構成了的世界最大經濟體。[ 10] [ 11] [ 10] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
在17世紀時，印度和中國的國內生產總值佔有世界的60%至70%。[ 15] [ 16]
雖然印度已經被確定為一個潜在超级大国 ，[ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20] 貧富差距 和基礎建設 的落後等，若果印度不克服這些問題將會大大阻礙其發展。[ 21]
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