India is poised to ascend the global economic ladder, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting it will become the world's third-largest economy by 2028. This trajectory includes surpassing Japan to claim the fourth position as early as 2025, marking a significant milestone in India's economic journey.
Currently ranked fifth with a nominal GDP of approximately \$3.7 trillion, India is expected to overtake Japan, whose GDP is projected at \$4.31 trillion in 2025, by reaching a GDP of \$4.34 trillion . This advancement is underpinned by robust private investment, macroeconomic stability, and sustained growth in private consumption.
The IMF anticipates India's real GDP to grow at 6.5% in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, reinforcing its status as the fastest-growing major economy . This growth provides an opportunity for India to implement critical structural reforms aimed at achieving its ambition of becoming an advanced economy by 2047.
Contributing factors to this economic ascent include a declining dependency ratio, increasing financial maturity, and rising incomes, which are expected to bolster savings and investment rates . These elements, combined with government initiatives to enhance infrastructure and ease of doing business, position India as a formidable player on the global economic stage.
As India continues on this upward trajectory, surpassing Germany and Japan in the coming years, it is set to solidify its role as a key driver of global economic growth.