India Launches Responsible Nations Index to Redefine Global Governance
New framework measures ethical governance, social well-being and environmental stewardship; Singapore tops 2026 rankings
- Responsible Nations Index (RNI) launched in New Delhi
- Former President Ram Nath Kovind was Chief Guest
- India ranked 16th in the inaugural RNI 2026
- Singapore, Switzerland and Denmark emerge as top three nations
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Jan: India on Sunday launched the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi under the aegis of the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF), introducing a new global framework that evaluates countries not just on economic power but on ethical governance, social well-being, environmental responsibility and global stewardship.
The launch ceremony was graced by former President Ram Nath Kovind, who underscored the importance of moral leadership, inclusive development and ethical governance as pillars of sustainable national and global progress. He said that responsible nationhood must go beyond GDP and military strength to include human dignity, environmental care and social justice.
The RNI is the outcome of a three-year academic and policy research initiative led by WIF, with key contributions from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai. It aims to reshape how national success is measured in an interconnected world.
As part of the programme, an expert panel discussion titled “From Human Well-being to Global Stewardship: Rethinking Responsibility, Prosperity and Peace in the 21st Century” was held, chaired by N.K. Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. Experts debated how governance models must evolve to address climate change, inequality and geopolitical instability.
WIF Founder Sudhanshu Mittal described the RNI as a “paradigm shift” from power-centric metrics to responsibility-centric evaluation of nations, aligning state policies with humanitarian and ethical values.
The event concluded with the formal release of the Responsible Nations Index Report 2026, marking the beginning of a global conversation on cooperative and responsible international conduct.
Key findings of Responsible Nations Index 2026
- Singapore ranked 1st with a score of 0.61945
- Switzerland (2nd) and Denmark (3rd) followed closely
- Other top performers included Cyprus, Sweden, Czechia, Belgium, Austria and Ireland
- India ranked 16th with a score of 0.55151, reflecting strong performance in governance and social responsibility relative to many major powers
- The United States ranked 66th, while China stood at 68th
- At the lower end of the scale were Yemen (151), South Sudan (152), Syria (153) and Central African Republic (154)
Organisers said the RNI would be updated periodically and is expected to influence global policy debates on sustainable development, ethical governance and climate action..
