How Strong is India's Military Strength? A Comprehensive Look

Apr 25, 2025, 14:03 IST

India Military Rank in the World: India's military ranks among the world's top 5, boasting a large active personnel, substantial land forces with thousands of tanks and artillery, a formidable air force with diverse aircraft, and a growing naval presence including aircraft carriers and submarines.

Decoding India's Military Might: 2025 Analysis
Decoding India's Military Might: 2025 Analysis

India Militray Rank: It's truly remarkable how India, in the decades following its independence and the painful partition, has steadily strengthened its position to become a prominent global power.

According to the Global Fire Power Review, India stands in the 4th position out of 145 countries with a Power Index score of 0.1184. 

India's strong military power is consistently ranked among the top 5 globally. This isn't new; India has been a top 10 military power for at least ten years.

Beyond just military strength, India's large population, strong financial position, and status as a major coal producer also contribute to its significant global influence. 

Furthermore, India is a nuclear power that hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is another important factor in its global strategic role.

So, are you ready to uncover more about India's multifaceted power and influence on the world stage? Let's get started!

Indian Army Ranking: Overview

  • Nation: India
  • Continent: Asia
  • Capital: New Delhi
  • Population: 1.4 billion

Category

Position

Total

Color

Population

2

145

GREEN

Available Manpower

2

145

GREEN

Fit-for-Service

2

145

GREEN

Military Age (Annual)

1

145

GREEN

Active Personnel

2

145

GREEN

Active Reserve Military Manpower

7

145

GREEN

Total Paramilitary Force Strength

2

145

GREEN

Total Military Aircraft

4

145

GREEN

Total Fighter Aircraft

4

145

GREEN

Attack Aircraft Types

4

145

GREEN

Total Transport Aircraft

4

145

GREEN

Total Trainer Aircraft

6

145

GREEN

Total Special Mission Aircraft

5

145

GREEN

Aerial Tanker Aircraft

11

145

GREEN

Helicopters

4

145

GREEN

Total Attack Helos

8

145

GREEN

Combat Tanks

5

145

GREEN

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

2

145

GREEN

Mobile Artillery (SP) Vehicles

32

145

BLUE

Mobile Artillery (Towed)/Field gun

3

145

GREEN

MLRS

18

145

GREEN

Total Navy Warship Fleet Strength

6

145

GREEN

Navy Aircraft Carrier Fleet Strength

3

145

GREEN

Navy Helos Carrier Fleet Strength

145

145

RED

Navy Destroyer Warship Fleet Strength

4

145

GREEN

Navy Frigate Warship Fleet Strength

4

145

GREEN

Navy Corvettes Warship Fleet Strength

5

145

GREEN

Total Navy Submarine Fleet Strength

7

145

GREEN

Offshore Patrol

8

145

GREEN

Navy Mine/Counter-mine Warfare Fleet Strength

145

145

RED

Oil Production (in bbl)

23

145

GREEN

Proven Oil Reserves (in bbl)

22

145

GREEN

Natural Gas Production (in bbl)

23

145

GREEN

Natural Gas Consumption

98

145

RED

Proven Natural Gas Reserves by Country

24

145

GREEN

Coal Production (in bbl)

2

145

GREEN

Coal Consumption by Country

118

145

RED

Coal Reserves Proven

5

145

GREEN

Labour Force Strength

2

145

GREEN

Total Merchant Marine Fleet Strength

12

145

GREEN

Total Ports & Trade Terminals

13

145

GREEN

Total Roadways Coverage by Country

2

145

GREEN

Total Railways Coverage by Country

4

145

GREEN

Total Airports Coverage by Country

20

145

GREEN

Defence Budget by Country

4

145

GREEN

External Debt Held by Country

116

145

RED

Total Foreign Reserves

5

145

GREEN

Total Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

3

145

GREEN

Total Square Land Area (in km)

7

145

GREEN

Coastline

90

145

YELLOW

Shared Border

131

145

RED

Waterways

90

145

GREEN

Green: Excellent; Blue: Good; Grey: Average; Yellow: Fair; Red: Poor

India Military Rank: Finance

India's financial strength in key areas is noteworthy. Its ability to purchase goods and services (Purchasing Power Parity) is very high at $13.1 trillion, ranking 3rd out of 145 countries. 

The country also holds a significant amount of foreign currency and gold reserves, totalling over $627 billion, placing it 5th globally. India's defence budget is $75 billion, ranking 4th. 

While its external debt is $371 billion USD, it's important to consider this in the context of its large economy. Overall, these figures highlight India's strong financial capacity.

India Military Strength: Land Power

When it comes to ground warfare, India has a substantial number of vehicles. They have around 4,201 tanks, with about 3,151 estimated to be ready for action. 

The total count of all types of military vehicles is quite high, at 148,594, with roughly 111,446 considered ready. For artillery, India possesses about 100 self-propelled units, with an estimated 75 ready, and a larger number of towed artillery pieces, around 3,975, with about 2,981 ready. 

Additionally, they have approximately 264 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), with an estimated 198 ready for deployment. These numbers indicate a significant ground force capability.

India Military Strength: Air Power

India has a considerable air force, with a total of 2,229 aircraft, of which an estimated 1,672 are ready to fly. This puts them in the 4th position globally in terms of total aircraft. 

Specifically, their fighter jet fleet consists of 513 aircraft (about 23% of their total), with around 385 estimated to be combat-ready, also ranking them 4th. For ground attack, they have 130 aircraft (about 5.8%), with roughly 98 ready. 

Their transport aircraft fleet numbers 270 (12.1%), with about 203 ready, placing them 4th in this category as well. They also have a significant number of training aircraft, with 351 (15.7%) in stock and an estimated 263 ready, ranking 6th. 

For specialised missions, they have 74 aircraft (3.3%), with about 56 ready, putting them in 5th place. Their tanker fleet, crucial for extending the range of other aircraft, includes 6 aircraft (0.3%), with an estimated 5 ready, ranking 11th. 

India's helicopter fleet is substantial, with 899 helicopters (40.3%) and an estimated 674 ready, ranking 4th. Within this, their attack helicopter inventory includes 80 aircraft (3.6%), with about 60 ready, placing them in the 8th position globally.

India Military Strength: Navy

India's naval power includes a total of 293 assets, ranking 6th globally, with a combined tonnage of 593,603 tonnes, placing them 5th. They operate 2 aircraft carriers, ranking 3rd. Notably, they do not have any dedicated helicopter carriers. 

Their fleet includes 13 destroyers and 14 frigates, both ranking 4th. They also possess 18 corvettes, ranking 5th, and 18 submarines, placing them 7th. 

Their patrol vessel fleet is substantial, with 135 vessels, ranking 8th. In terms of mine warfare capabilities, they currently have no dedicated mine warfare vessels.

India Military Strength: Logistics

India possesses a massive labour force of approximately 593.7 million people, ranking 2nd globally. 

Its merchant marine fleet includes 1,859 vessels, placing it 12th. The country has 56 ports and trade terminals, ranking 13th, and a significant number of airports, totalling 311, which ranks 20th. 

India's roadway network is extensive, covering about 6.37 million kilometres, the 2nd largest in the world. Its railway network spans 65,554 kilometres, ranking 4th. Additionally, India has 14,500 kilometres of usable waterways, placing it 10th.

Disclaimer: This data has been taken from the Global Fire Power Index 2025. This index ranks military strength based on its proprietary methodology. Rankings and assessments may vary. Refer to the official Global Firepower website for detailed information and methodology.

Kriti Barua
Kriti Barua

Executive Content Writer

Kriti Barua is a professional content writer who has four years of experience in creating engaging and informative articles for various industries. She started her career as a creative writer intern at Wordloom Ventures and quickly developed a passion for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

Currently working as a content writer for the GK section of Jagran New Media, she continues to hone her skills in writing and strives to deliver high-quality content that educates and entertains readers.
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