Soft Power India’s Moment

In 2025, India’s global influence was shaped not by military might or economic numbers alone, but by its expanding soft power — its ability to attract, inspire, and influence through culture, knowledge, values, and human capital. Across science, sports, culture, literature, environment, health, and education, India projected an image of a confident, creative, and increasingly responsible global player.

Science and Innovation remained a cornerstone of India’s soft power. The continued success of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), especially follow-up missions building on Chandrayaan achievements and advances in space applications for climate and agriculture, reinforced India’s reputation for cost-effective and ethical innovation. India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure, as Aadhaar-linked services, UPI, and open-source platforms, was increasingly studied and adopted by developing nations, positioning the country as a model for inclusive tech-driven governance.

Sports played a major role in shaping India’s global image in 2025. Cricket continued to be a cultural glue, but India’s growing presence in athletics, shooting, wrestling, badminton, and chess reflected a broader sporting ecosystem. The rise of leagues, grassroots programs, Women athletes added to India’s narrative of diversity and resilience. Sports diplomacy-through hosting events and international collaborations-helped strengthen people-to-people ties.

Culture and Cinema remained among India’s most powerful soft power tools. Indian films, OTT content, and regional storytelling gained global audiences, offering nuanced narratives beyond stereotypes. Yoga, Ayurveda, and wellness tourism continued to draw international attention, reinforcing India’s identity as a civilisation rooted in balance and inner well-being. Festivals, cuisine, and music — both classical and

contemporary-served as cultural bridges across continents. Literature and Ideas saw renewed global interest in Indian voices. Writers exploring identity, history, climate anxiety, and social change found readerships worldwide. Indian thought leadership-combining ancient philosophy with modern challenges-found resonance in discussions on mindfulness, ethics, and sustainable living.

Environment and Climate Action became a growing source of credibility. India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance, renewable energy expansion, and climate-conscious policies strengthened its image as a responsible stakeholder, even as it balanced development needs. Indigenous knowledge systems related to conservation also gained global recognition.

Health and Education further enhanced India’s soft power. As the “pharmacy of the world,” India continued supplying affordable medicines and vaccines to many countries. Medical tourism, telemedicine, and digital health platforms attracted international patients. In education, Indian universities, ed-tech platforms, and skill-training initiatives drew students from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, reinforcing India’s role as a knowledge hub.

Looking ahead to 2026, India’s soft power is likely to deepen through three key trends: greater integration of technology with culture and governance; stronger global leadership on climate and sustainability; and an expanding role as a mentor nation for the Global South. If India continues to invest in human capital, creativity, and ethical leadership, its influence in 2026 will not just be visible-but deeply felt.In 2025, India’s soft power told a compelling story: of a nation confident in its roots, adaptive in its approach, and increasingly influential through ideas, innovation, and inspiration.

Cultural & Arts events

25th IIFA Awards (Jaipur): The silver jubilee IIFA Awards were hosted in Jaipur, where Laapataa Ladies won 10 awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Kiran Rao), Best Actress (Nitanshi Goel) and Best Actor (Kartik Aaryan). 

Kalinga Literary Festival 2025 (Bhubaneswar): Prestigious KLF Book Awards were conferred to outstanding authors across genres - Vanya (Manisha Kulsherstha) and Kissagram (Prabhat Ranjan) in fiction, Dharm Wah Naav Nahin in poetry, and Charu, Chivar Aur Charya in translation — reinforcing the strength of Indian literary talent. 

Atal Bihari Vajpayee National Award for Promotion of Art & Culture: The 8th edition recognised eminent artists and cultural promoters like Jatin Das (painter), Pt. Prosenjit Poddar (tabla maestro) and Meenu Thakur (Kuchipudi dancer), celebrating India’s cultural guardians. 

International Storytelling Festival: The sixth edition brought together leading storytellers such as Devdutt Pattanaik and Mita Vashisht, reviving oral narrative traditions like Jumlebaazi. It showed storytelling as a powerful thread connecting generations.

New Delhi World Book Fair 2025: One of the world’s largest book fairs saw participation from 1,000 writers, 600+ literary programmes and 2 million visitors, with Russia as Guest of Honour. 

Art & Cultural Festivals: The Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa showcased interdisciplinary art across India and abroad. 

Science & technology: Major feats

Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Progress: India advanced key tests for its first human space mission with successful crew escape and module validation tests and continued astronaut training, edging closer to sending Indian astronauts to space.

Aditya-L1 Solar Observatory: Placed at the Sun-Earth L1 point to continuously observe the Sun, the mission is studying solar activity, space weather and coronal heating — vital for protecting satellites and communications.

XPoSat Mission: India’s X-ray polarimetry satellite XPoSat is gathering data on black holes, neutron stars and extreme cosmic events, deepening India’s involvement in high-energy astrophysics.

Launch Vehicle & NavIC Strength: PSLV & LVM3 continued reliable flights; NavIC navigation system expanded, and development progressed on next-gen heavy and reusable launchers.

‘Bahubali’ Heavy-Lift Launch: ISRO achieved a rare milestone by launching the heaviest satellite ever from Indian soil.  ISRO’s LVM3 rocket, nicknamed Bahubali, placed the BlueBird Block-2 — the heaviest commercial satellite launched from India — into orbit, showcasing heavy-lift capability and global commercial collaboration.

Sports Achievements

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating strong opposition throughout the tournament and clinching the final with a composed all-round performance. In November 2025,

The India Women’s Cricket Team wins the ICC Women’s World Cup

India won their first Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Athletics - Neeraj Chopra (2025 Season): Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra continued his elite run by winning and finishing on the podium in multiple Diamond League meets in 2025.

Badminton - Satwik/Chirag & Singles Circuit: India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won titles and reached finals on the BWF World Tour 2025, while Indian singles players made deep runs in Super 500 and Super 750 tournaments.

Hockey - FIH Pro League 2025: The Indian men’s hockey team delivered consistent performances in the FIH Pro League 2025, securing key wins against top-ranked teams and strengthening preparations for upcoming global events.

Chess - Global Circuit 2025: Indian grandmasters recorded tournament wins and podium finishes across elite international open and closed events.

Football — Indian Super League 2024-25 Season: The ISL 2025 season saw record attendance, tighter competition, and improved performances by Indian players, reflecting steady progress in domestic football.