Big news for India — the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has released the Global Innovation Index 2025, and India has secured the 38th position worldwide. India ranks 38th in innovation index. This achievement is remarkable as it reflects the country’s steady progress in innovation and intellectual property rights (IPR ) backed by recent government initiatives, subsidies, and policy support. India’s rise shows that its innovation ecosystem is not only growing stronger but also gaining global recognition. But where exactly does India stand among the world’s leaders? Who are the top 10 countries in the index, what areas has India improved in, and which fields still need more attention? Keep reading.
Why India Ranks 38th In Innovation Index Is Significant
Before diving into the details, it’s important to understand why the Global Innovation Index matters and why India ranks 38th in innovation index is creating so much buzz. The index isn’t just about numbers—it’s a reflection of how well countries are adapting to a knowledge-driven economy. For India, this jump is especially meaningful. Ranked 39th in 2024, the move to 38th shows that while progress may be gradual, it’s steady and consistent. More importantly, it highlights how India is moving beyond traditional growth drivers and embracing innovation, technology, and research as the backbone of development. The report also points out India’s strengths—like ICT services and startups—while flagging gaps in areas such as infrastructure and research. In short, it acts as both a celebration of progress and a roadmap for what still needs to be done.
If we talk about the top 10 countries in this list, they are as follows:
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- United States of America
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- United Kingdom
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Denmark
China
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What Achievements of India Were Highlighted by WIPO in the 2025 Innovation Index?
Now, let’s look at the fields where India has performed really well. In its report, WIPO specifically highlighted India’s growth and noted the areas where the country stood out globally. According to the list, India made its mark in several key indicators, such as:
- Startups & Unicorns – Strong performance in late-stage venture capital deals and unicorn valuations, showing the maturity of India’s startup ecosystem.
- Intangible Assets – India scored high in areas like trademarks and brand value, reflecting the rise of digital businesses.
- Innovation Clusters – Cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai were recognized among the world’s top innovation hubs.
- Knowledge & Technology Outputs – India performed well in indicators like patents, R&D outputs, and scientific publications.
But if you’re wondering how this transformation became possible, here’s the story: back in 2015, India was ranked 81st in the Global Innovation Index, and in just a decade, it has climbed up to the 38th position. This leap didn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of the government working aggressively to build an innovation-driven economy.
- Initiatives like Startup India and Digital India created an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs and fosters creativity.
- At the same time, India’s IT sector, with its global dominance in software, outsourcing, and digital services, gave the country a strong foundation.
- The startup boom, marked by a surge in unicorns and late-stage venture capital funding, further boosted India’s visibility on the global stage.
- Add to this a young and skilled talent pool of engineers, innovators, and researchers who are constantly pushing boundaries, and you see the real engine behind this progress.
- On top of that, global collaborations and foreign investment in R&D and technology have helped accelerate the journey, making India’s rise in the innovation index both steady and remarkable.
What Should India Focus On to Enter the Top 10 of the Global Innovation Index?
But we shouldn’t be satisfied with just this achievement—India needs to work even harder to break into the Top 10 and truly showcase its full potential on the global stage. For India to break into the Top 10 of the Global Innovation Index, it needs to go beyond its strengths in ICT and startups and focus on critical gaps. This includes investing more in R&D and infrastructure, improving early-stage funding for startups beyond metro cities, and strengthening industry–academia collaboration. Better governance, patent systems, and skill development in emerging tech like AI, biotech, and green energy will also be key. By addressing these areas, India can steadily move closer to joining the world’s top innovation leaders.
Conclusion
India ranks 38th in innovation index is a proud milestone, showing steady progress powered by startups, ICT services, and a young talent pool. But the journey doesn’t stop here. By strengthening R&D, infrastructure, funding, and governance, India can unlock its full potential and aim for the Top 10 innovators in the world in the coming years.
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