New Delhi, Jan 19 (NationPress) In a significant policy development, India officially unveiled the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) on Monday. This global framework evaluates countries based on their accountability to citizens, the environment, and the international community, rather than solely by their economic prowess or geopolitical standing.

Academic institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai, played a crucial role in establishing the intellectual foundations and methodological rigor for the Index, as noted in a statement.

The launch event, held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, was presided over by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

He emphasized the significance of ethical governance, inclusive progress, and moral duty in shaping sustainable futures at both national and global levels.

Sudhanshu Mittal, Founder and Secretary of the WIF, stated that the RNI marks a transition from power-centric evaluations to those focused on a nation's responsibilities.

"The Responsible Nations Index poses a vital question: how responsibly does a nation wield its power? Prosperity without accountability is not sustainable. The RNI aims to foster ethical governance, compassionate development, and global stewardship," he elaborated.

The event gathered esteemed policymakers, jurists, economists, scholars, diplomats, and institutional leaders, showcasing the multidimensional aspect of the RNI initiative.

The Responsible Nations Index is the product of a three-year academic and policy initiative, conceptualized and developed by the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF).

Rooted in India’s civilizational values of dharma and global welfare, the Index aims to reshape the global dialogue surrounding nationhood and advancement.

The formal launch was preceded by an Expert Panel Discussion titled "From Human Well-being to Global Stewardship: Rethinking Responsibility, Prosperity and Peace in the 21st Century," led by N.K. Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission of India.

The panel included notable economists and scholars such as Prachi Mishra, Laveesh Bhandari, and Neelkanth Mishra.

During the inaugural session, speeches were given by Santishree D. Pandit, Vice-Chancellor of JNU; Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director of IIM Mumbai; and Edouard Husson, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Paris, who also shared key insights from a closed-door Expert Roundtable held earlier on Monday.

Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra discussed the mission of the World Intellectual Foundation and the broader implications of the RNI as a new perspective on global responsibility.

The ceremony concluded with the official release of the Responsible Nations Index Report, signaling the start of what WIF anticipates will be an enduring global dialogue on responsible nationhood.

The World Intellectual Foundation is a global think tank dedicated to promoting ideas that foster ethical leadership, accountable governance, and sustainable global futures through rigorous research and dialogue.