New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) India has ascended to the 38th position in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII), establishing the nation as a premier innovator among lower-middle-income economies and the leading innovator in Central and Southern Asia, as per a recent media report.

The report from the Times of Oman characterized this achievement as a “national pride”, emphasizing that “innovation is now integral to India’s economic identity”.

“India is no longer an aspirant but has transformed into an active participant in the global innovation arena,” the report remarked, highlighting the country's achievements in ICT services exports, late-stage venture capital transactions, and unicorn valuations, alongside its innovation growth.

The report underscored that India’s advancement in the GII is “a narrative of consistency and resilience”.

“Having improved from 48th rank in 2020, India has progressed every year despite global uncertainties. By 2025, it has reached the 38th position, showcasing a decade-long upward trend indicative of institutional and ecosystem maturity,” the report stated.

The report links the country’s innovation surge to its vision of becoming an “Atmanirbhar Bharat, global manufacturing hub, and Viksit Bharat”.

Initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and Make in India are facilitating the transition from low-value assembly to high-value, design-focused, technology-driven manufacturing.

Moreover, the report mentions a “thriving startup ecosystem, robust digital infrastructure, extensive internet access, mobile adoption, and fintech innovation” as contributing factors to India’s innovation trajectory.

It noted that the country is increasingly appealing for foreign investment in knowledge-intensive and technology-rich sectors.

With the evolving global landscape, “India’s rise in the innovation index grants it a strategic advantage during this transformation”, the report concluded, pointing out that India is becoming a partner of choice for nations in the Global South.

Highlighting India’s consistent ascent in the global hierarchy, the report asserted that the country “will also reshape the contours of the global innovation landscape”. The report heralded this moment as the “beginning of a new era for India”, where innovation becomes the hallmark of the nation’s identity in the dynamic global ecosystem.