India has been ranked16th among 154 countriesin theResponsible Nations Index (RNI) 2026, a global framework that evaluates how responsibly nations exercise their power toward citizens, the environment, and the wider world.
Launched by theWorld Intellectual Foundation, the RNI emphasizesresponsibility over traditional measures of power, such as economic size, military strength, or geopolitical influence. The index is the result of a three-year academic and policy initiative, designed to assess how nations use their influence ethically, sustainably, and equitably.
TheRNI 2026is structured aroundthree core pillars:
Internal responsibility– the nation’s obligations to the dignity, well-being, and empowerment of its citizens.
Environmental responsibility– commitment to ecological protection and sustainable development.
External responsibility– behavior and contributions within the international system.
These pillars are measured acrossseven dimensions, including governance, social justice, economic performance, quality of life, environmental protection, commitment to peace, and international economic relations, using58 carefully selected indicatorsfrom reliable global sources such as theUN, World Bank, IMF, WHO, FAO, ILO, and World Justice Project.
Thetop-ranked countriesareSingapore, Switzerland, and Denmark, withIndia at 16th, ahead of Italy, France, Albania, and Poland. TheUnited States ranks 66th,China 68th, andRussia 96th, reflecting weaker performance on responsibility metrics. Japan ranks 38th, the UK 25th, Brazil 81st, South Africa 88th, and North Korea 146th.
TheRNI highlights that responsible national conduct depends more on institutional integrity, ethical governance, and inclusive development than on economic size. By shifting focus from power to responsibility, the index offers policymakers, researchers, and citizens anew lens to assess global leadership, sustainability, and equitable development.
