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Photo: Kumaravels derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY 2.5 in · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
India: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
India is placed 73rd of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness 0.502 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 73.72 (2024).
Governance & Institutions
73rd
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.502Government Effectiveness, 2025Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
- 73.72Statistical Performance Indicators, 2024SPI overall score (0–100)
- 39Corruption Perceptions Index, 2025CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
- 0.667Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, 2025Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place India on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Government Effectiveness
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: The quality of public services and the civil service that delivers them, and the credibility of a government's commitment to its own policies. Where the Corruption Perceptions Index asks whether a state is honest, this asks whether it is competent.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
0.502
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
India: 0.502. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Southern Asia
- 0.706 Bhutan
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh -0.445 · Bhutan 0.706 · China 0.624 · Myanmar -1.618 · Nepal -0.77 · Pakistan -0.606
Each grey tick is one of 209 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether a state can measure its own country. Nothing else here tests the capacity of the statistical system itself.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
73.72
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
India: 73.72. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Southern Asia
- 74.58 Sri Lanka
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh 71.64 · Bhutan 57.97 · China 57.93 · Myanmar 64.52 · Nepal 60.37 · Pakistan 68.06
Each grey tick is one of 188 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
Why it is a key: How much corruption the people who actually deal with a government perceive — an outcome, where the other keys measure the state’s capacity and the limits the law puts on it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
39
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Ranked 91st of 181 by Transparency International
India: 39. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
- Best in Southern Asia
- 71 Bhutan
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh 24 · Bhutan 71 · China 43 · Myanmar 16 · Nepal 34 · Pakistan 28
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
Why it is a key: Whether the executive respects the constitution and obeys the courts, and whether the courts can rule against it freely — the law binding those who write it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.667
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
India: 0.667. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
- Best in Southern Asia
- 0.912 Sri Lanka
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh 0.432 · Bhutan 0.802 · China 0.03 · Myanmar 0.025 · Nepal 0.764 · Pakistan 0.499
Each grey tick is one of 176 countries in the 2025 edition.
02Over time
Which way India is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
IndiaWorld median
India rose from -0.561 in 2000 to 0.502 in 2025; the world median went from -0.397 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year India World median 2025 0.5021 0.1006 2024 0.5081 0.0098 2023 0.5084 -0.0408 2022 0.4390 -0.0305 2021 0.3588 -0.0158 2020 0.4546 -0.0171 2019 0.5551 0.0150 2018 0.5521 0.0159 2017 0.4244 0.0158 2016 0.4724 0.0225 2015 0.4804 0.0038 2014 0.1523 0.0194 2013 0.1072 -0.0758 2012 0.0933 -0.0839 2011 0.1075 -0.1221 2010 0.1129 -0.1145 2009 0.1217 -0.1609 2008 0.0630 -0.2134 2007 -0.0342 -0.3260 2006 -0.1318 -0.3310 2005 -0.1798 -0.3706 2004 -0.2085 -0.3140 2003 -0.4325 -0.4369 2002 -0.4808 -0.3366 2000 -0.5613 -0.3969 Statistical Performance Indicators
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
IndiaWorld median
India rose from 65.72 in 2016 to 73.72 in 2024; the world median went from 56.25 to 69.3.
Every year’s figures
Year India World median 2024 73.7 69.30 2023 77.3 68.86 2022 76.9 67.99 2021 77.4 69.96 2020 73.5 62.91 2019 68.4 61.19 2018 67.1 61.17 2017 65.0 59.55 2016 65.7 56.25 Corruption Perceptions Index
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) · higher is better
IndiaWorld median
India rose from 36 in 2012 to 39 in 2025; the world median went from 37 to 39.
Every year’s figures
Year India World median 2025 39 39.0 2024 38 40.0 2023 39 40.0 2022 40 39.5 2021 40 39.0 2020 40 40.0 2019 41 39.5 2018 41 38.0 2017 40 38.5 2016 40 38.0 2015 38 37.0 2014 38 38.0 2013 36 38.0 2012 36 37.0 Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) · higher is better
IndiaWorld median
India fell from 0.819 in 2000 to 0.667 in 2025; the world median went from 0.647 to 0.676.
Every year’s figures
Year India World median 2025 0.667 0.6760 2024 0.710 0.6645 2023 0.724 0.6590 2022 0.764 0.6600 2021 0.761 0.6580 2020 0.753 0.6645 2019 0.766 0.6560 2018 0.777 0.6485 2017 0.777 0.6550 2016 0.800 0.6520 2015 0.799 0.6700 2014 0.818 0.6515 2013 0.827 0.6550 2012 0.822 0.6750 2011 0.822 0.6680 2010 0.822 0.6640 2009 0.819 0.6580 2008 0.819 0.6590 2007 0.819 0.6630 2006 0.819 0.6590 2005 0.819 0.6580 2004 0.819 0.6480 2003 0.819 0.6480 2002 0.819 0.6470 2001 0.819 0.6530 2000 0.819 0.6465
03In context
India beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
1st194thNot placed · 30 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
India and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 194 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bhutan | 51st | 0.706 | 57.97 | 71 | 0.802 |
| India | 73rd | 0.502 | 73.72 | 39 | 0.667 |
 China | 125th | 0.624 | 57.93 | 43 | 0.03 |
 Nepal | 130th | -0.77 | 60.37 | 34 | 0.764 |
 Bangladesh | 135th | -0.445 | 71.64 | 24 | 0.432 |
 Pakistan | 136th | -0.606 | 68.06 | 28 | 0.499 |
 Myanmar | 173rd | -1.618 | 64.52 | 16 | 0.025 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below India in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where India is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which India does better than the middle country measured.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.9690.63No real change since 2022
India: 0.969 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 7th of 196 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9418.5843.94▲ Improved since 2014
India: 18.58 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 97th of 110 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1966.5540.19▲ Improved since 2020
India: 66.55 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 27th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.9310.4912.93▲ Improved since 2014
India: 10.49 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 67th of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.164.352.1No earlier reading
India: 64.3 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6819.816.68No earlier reading
India: 19.8 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 58th of 139 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which India does worse than the middle country measured.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.102-0.129-0.102▼ Worsened since 2015
India: -0.129 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 110th of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-0.152-0.022▼ Worsened since 2015
India: -0.152 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 110th of 206 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.17-0.093▲ Improved since 2015
India: -0.17 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 112th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.39595.3▲ Improved since 2015
India: 95 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-0.279-0.197No real change since 2015
India: -0.279 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 115th of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.260.353▼ Worsened since 2015
India: 0.26 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 105th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · 2024 · world median 595459▼ Worsened since 2015
India: 54 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.
Ranked 99th of 168 by Open Data Watch.
V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.3770.497▼ Worsened since 2015
India: 0.377 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.
Position 106th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.3620.387▲ Improved since 2014
India: 0.362 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 117th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.6840.518▼ Worsened since 2015
India: 0.684 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.
Position 58th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 81.2574.3881.25▼ Worsened since 2014
India: 74.38 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.25 to 100; higher is better.
Position 129th of 190 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.489.198.4No earlier reading
India: 89.1 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.463050.46No earlier reading
India: 30 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 141st of 198 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.017.77415.01No earlier reading
India: 7.774 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 97th of 135 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2110.7716.21Moved since 2015
India: 10.77 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.
Position 109th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.3560.608Moved since 2013
India: 0.356 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.
Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.9750.9777.975No real change since 2012
India: 0.977 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 168th of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No current reading for India
Agriculture Orientation Index (last 2023), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (last 2013), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2021) and Government Spending on Education (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among India’s 16 topics
Governance & Institutions is India’s 5th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Digital & Technology1st of 1983/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade15th of 1473/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequality22nd of 1592/2 keys
- Education & Knowledge49th of 1713/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions73rd of 1944/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture82nd of 1753/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation86th of 1764/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 91st of 1813/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 99th of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital114th of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties122nd of 1983/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing150th of 2003/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 140th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality150th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy159th of 1933/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience173rd of 1923/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders India can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan=10th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Bhutan51st4/4 keysThis page
India73rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about India and governance & institutions
About India
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita. India is the better placed on five of them; Pakistan on one.
On governance & institutions
WJP Rule of Law Index 2024: Which Countries Lead in Justice and Accountability?
The thirteen strongest of the 142 countries the World Justice Project measures, and the eight factors the overall score averages. Four countries are published at 0.83 and still carry separate ranks.
08Questions
India on governance & institutions: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does India rank on governance & institutions?
India is placed 73rd of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for India?
0.502 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for India?
73.72 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
How does India compare with China on governance & institutions?
China is placed 125th of 194, and India 73rd. Government Effectiveness: China 0.624, India 0.502; Statistical Performance Indicators: China 57.93, India 73.72; Corruption Perceptions Index: China 43, India 39; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: China 0.03, India 0.667.
How have India’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness rose from -0.561 in 2000 to 0.502 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 65.72 in 2016 to 73.72 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 36 in 2012 to 39 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index fell from 0.819 in 2000 to 0.667 in 2025.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for India?
No current reading is published for India on Agriculture Orientation Index, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Government Funding per Primary Student and Government Spending on Education. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
India, topic by topic
- Economy & Innovation86th of 176
- Work & Labour=99th of 182
- Education & Knowledge49th of 171
- Health & Wellbeing150th of 200
- Development & Human Capital114th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability=91st of 181
- Gender & Equality150th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties122nd of 198
- Peace & Security=140th of 177
- Risk & Resilience173rd of 192
- Mobility & Trade15th of 147
- Food & Agriculture82nd of 175
- Poverty & Inequality22nd of 159
- Energy159th of 193
- Digital & Technology1st of 198
- The full India profile
Nearby, on governance & institutions
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 30 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 194 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
India’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- India (banner) — Kumaravels derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY 2.5 in
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). India: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/india/governance