India ranks fourth in the world in terms of military power | Photo Credit: PTI

New Delhi: India has been ranked the fourth most powerful military power in the world. According to the Global Fire Power Index 2017, India's military strength is second only to that of the US, Russia, and China. Rival neighbour Pakistan ranks 13th on the list. The report also gives details which can provide a comparison between the militaries of China, Pakistan, and India. While India has retained its position in the top five militaries in the world, Pakistan made it to top 15 only last year. Interestingly, according to the report, France, Germany, UK, Japan and Israel, though in top 15, rank much behind India.

According to the index, India has an active military comprising of 13,62,500 personnel. China, with which India has been facing major boundary disputes in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the northeast, has 37,12,500 military personnel. The Indian Air Force has 2102 aircraft -- 676 fighter, 809 attack, and others. China, on the other hand, has 2955 aircraft in all --1271 fighter aircraft, 1385 attack aircraft, and 206 attack choppers, besides others.

The Indian Army has a total of 4426 combat tanks, 6704 armoured fighting vehicles, 290 self-propelled artillery guns and 7414 towed artillery guns. According to the report, Pakistan has a total of 2924 tanks, 2828 armoured fighting vehicles, 426 artillery guns and 3278 towed artillery guns. China, with 6457 tanks, 4788 armoured fighting vehicles, 1710 self-propelled artillery guns and 6246 towed guns, has an army strength superior to India as well as Pakistan- in terms of numbers.

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The report cites that the Indian Navy has three aircraft carriers as against China's one. India also has 11 destroyers and 15 submarines -- elements that contribute to its maritime strength. China has 35 destroyers and 68 submarines. According to the report, India's defence budget is USD 51 billion as against China's USD161.7 billion and Pakistan's USD7 billion. Pakistan does not have an aircraft carrier and its naval force consists of 10 frigates and eight submarines besides other supporting elements. The report has not taken into consideration the strategic forces of any country such as nuclear firepower.