India And The Use Of Its Soft Power In The Global Arena: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

Neither military capacity nor economic GDP alone can account for India's emergence as a consequential actor 
in global affairs. This paper demonstratively analyses deployment of powers of soft power a broad definition 
which refers to the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payment by India along 
channels cultural, diplomatic, technological and diaspora-driven between 2015-2023. On the basis of five primary 
original data tables based on information collated over a range of sources including the Portland Soft Power 30 
Index, Ministry of External Affairs annual reports, World Bank diaspora datasets and Indian Council for Cultural 
Relations (ICCR) programme records this study quantifies trends in India's composite soft power score, regional 
perception charters & positioning amongst BRICS nations. Results show a statistically significant increase in the 
composite index of India's soft power from 56.1 in 2015 to 74.3 by 2023 driven mainly by cultural exports followed 
by other factors such as Vaccine Maitri, digital diplomacy and India's G20 presidency. Your diaspora influence 
score is among the highest globally, especially in North America and UAE. Although India scores high in 
technological influence especially in the regions of Europe and North America political trust deficits remain 
apparent, particularly in East Asia and are partly a reflection of ongoing Sino-Indian border tensions. 
Appallingly, China still polls better than India on the Portland Index, although it has narrowed from an 
improbable 11 to a mere 3 points over our study period. The paper argues that while India's soft power is 
increasing, it continues to lay mostly untapped as a function of its vast civilisational and demographic assets with 
there being structural limits in the form of institutional fragmentation and mixed messages.

DOI: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/07.2026-36968584