India has emerged as the third most competitive country in artificial intelligence (AI), according to the latest global rankings. The 2025 Global AI Vibrancy Tool from Stanford University places India behind only the United States and China in overall AI competitiveness, highlighting its fast-growing technology ecosystem and substantial talent pool.

Global AI Competitiveness Ranking

The Global AI Vibrancy Tool evaluates countries on multiple indicators of AI development. These include research and development, talent availability, infrastructure, investment levels, policy and governance, public perception, and economic impact. India secured the third position with a score of 21.59, trailing the United States (78.6) and China (36.95).

India’s ranking reflects a notable leap from seventh place in the previous year’s index to third in the 2025 rankings. This jump places India ahead of several advanced economies, including South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Canada, Germany, and France.

Why India Ranks High

Experts say India’s climb rests on several strengths:

• Strong tech talent base: The country produces large numbers of engineers and AI professionals.
• Growing research output: Indian researchers are publishing more AI-related work and filing more patents.
• Expanding startup ecosystem: AI startups in sectors from healthcare to finance are attracting global investment.
• Widening adoption: Industries and governments are increasingly adopting AI solutions.
  These strengths helped India outperform many higher-income nations despite being a lower-middle-income economy.

Global Context and Challenges

The United States and China remain clear leaders in AI competitiveness, driven by heavy investment, advanced infrastructure, and broad research ecosystems. While India is now a major contender, its score gap shows there is still ground to cover to reach the scale and depth of AI ecosystems in the U.S. and China.

What This Means for India

Achieving a top-three global rank sends a strong signal that India’s AI capabilities are maturing rapidly. The recognition is expected to attract more investment, support government policy focus on technology, and encourage deeper AI adoption across industries. As AI becomes central to future economic growth, India’s position enhances its influence in global technology discussions.