India is the world's second most populous country and the largest arms importer.
They also have a growing economy, are nuclear capable,
and are constantly skirmishing with Pakistan.
So how powerful is India?
And how big of a threat do they pose to global stability?
Well, normally we would compare a nation's military strength to that of United States or Russia.
But a more relevant comparison is China,
and even then the gap still wide.
China has roughly ~2,285,000 active troops.
India has only has roughly ~1,325,000 active troops.
They're also outnumbered when it comes to tanks, ships, subs, and planes.
China has a larger military budget, and
a better command structure.
Because India's military command is uniquely fractured.
There is no centralized military authority within India's armed forces.
They do not have an equivalent to the US's Head of the Joint Chiefs
As a result, the heads of each wing of their military act somewhat autonomously.
This is by design.
It prevents the military from assuming too much power,
or organizing a coup.
As a side effect, the military also has difficulty organizing
solid war scenarios or contingency plans.
According to some reports, the Indian military is lacking a strategic culture.
They are also lacking a strong military-industrial complex
India buys the majority of its weapons from other nations.
This gives them both an economic and technological disadvantage.
If you are buying more than 50% of your military equipment from Russia,
you are not going to have a better equipped military than Russia.
But with all of that said, things are not as bad for India as they may seem
India is believed to have a more experienced and better trained military than China,
and one more aircraft carrier.
They also have better relationships with other naval powers
like South Korea, Japan, and the US.
India conducts more joint naval exercises with US than it does with any other nation.
They also have a nuclear arsenal with rockets capable
of hitting most areas of China.
All of which act as a deterrent against Chinese aggression.
So, again, with all of that said, how powerful is India
and how much of a threat do they pose to global stability?
Well, they have the fourth most powerful military by strength,
the tenth largest economy by size,
and they could pose a legitimate threat to global stability.
Primarily because of their location.
India sits between China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
They are currently engaged in border disputes with both China and Pakistan,
plus, a less than covert guerrilla war with Pakistan
which often includes direct military combat in Kashmir.
If a large scale were to break out between China, South Asia, or a Far eastern nation like Pakistan,
there is a good chance that India would be involved.