India’s civilizational diplomacy, rooted in its rich cultural heritage, spiritual traditions, and ancient knowledge systems, positions the country as a leader in soft power. Global attraction is fostered through religious and cultural tourism at sites like Bodh Gaya and events like the Kumbh Mela, alongside health and wellness offerings in Ayurveda, yoga, and affordable medical treatments. The Indian diaspora amplifies this influence by contributing to diplomatic successes, exemplified by their role in the U.S.-India nuclear deal.
India’s soft power integrates seamlessly with its official foreign policy, leveraging cultural assets and modern digital advancements to align public diplomacy with national objectives. With a strategic focus on maximizing its historical and cultural strengths, India aspires to solidify its place among the world’s foremost soft power nations.
India’s Ascent as a Soft Power Leader
In this edition of Sharp Scope, Uma Sudhindra delves into India’s ascent as a soft power leader. Through civilizational diplomacy, cultural tourism, Ayurveda, yoga, and a vibrant diaspora, India leverages its heritage and modern advancements to enhance global influence. By integrating these assets with foreign policy, India aims to solidify its position among top soft power nations.
We invite you to explore this insightful brief. To access the brief, you can read it as an embedded PDF (laptops/desktops) or download the file as a PDF and read it on your device.
Uma Sudhindra, founder of XD Defence Systems, is a change enabler for startups and MSMEs in the defence and aerospace sectors. As a pioneer in military tourism, her company, Go Magic Trails, organizes Battlefield Tours and collaborates with the Army Adventure Wing for the Siachen Glacier Trek for civilians. Uma is a public speaker, and visiting faculty, and serves on the Board of Governors at IIM Visakhapatnam. She is also an Advisor to the Centre for National Security Studies and Interim General Secretary of the Federation Association of Small Industries of India.
Anurag Sharma 
SaiRakshit Raghupathy