Prime Minister Narendra Modi has projected India as a rising power under Hindu nationalism, but analysts say the country’s limits are increasingly evident.
Despite rapid growth and diplomatic gains, India faces deep inequality, youth unemployment, and military shortcomings compared with China.
Modi’s nationalist rhetoric boosts his domestic image but often clashes with fragile infrastructure and strained regional ties. While India courts the West, it remains reliant on Russian arms and vulnerable to internal divisions.
Critics warn that Modi risks overplaying his hand, as India is not yet as strong as his narrative imagines.