The world of yesterday

Get an idea of the book from the passage belowAccording to the ’World Population Review 2021,’ the powerful country in the world is the United States, followed by China, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.The survey ranks 80 countries on the basis of five criteria: international and military alliances, political and economic influence, and leadership skills.Also read | Make India the world’s biggest military power: PM inaugurates 7 defence firmsThe US tops the list with a massive GDP of $21 trillion. Meanwhile, China has a GDP of $14 trillion.Despite being defended by US Biden Joe Biden as a ’necessary measure,’ the controversial withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan after two decades of war, the country is being deemed as a hegemon in retreat by critics. Also read | Live firings & high levels of exercises introduced in Malabar: Karambir SinghPresident Vladimir Putin had himself said that the US and Russia no longer decide the answers to the most important questions in the world.He added that China and Germany are headed for superpower status due to the waning influence and the US.India occupies the 13th spot on the list with a GDP of almost $3 trillion. Its rich talent pool and affordable connectivity are crucial factors that will improve its ranking in the future.Also see | In Pics: All the countries with which China is in a territorial dispute