An American Foreign Policy magazine has placed India at number six spot in a list of eight great powers for the year 2017.

The magazine has placed the US at top slot followed by China and Japan. While, Russia and Germany have been placed at fourth and fifth spot respectively.

The list Iran is ranked seventh and Israel is on the eighth spot. 

"Like Japan, India is often overlooked in lists of the world's great powers, but it occupies a rare and enviable position on the world stage," The American Interest magazine said 

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has deftly steered its way among these competing powers while seeking to unleash its potential with modernising economic reforms," it said. 

"Long hesitant to pick sides, New Delhi took several clear steps this year to deter a rising and aggressive China, announcing that it would fast-track its defence infrastructure projects in the Indian Ocean, amid fears that China was trying to encircle India with a 'string of pearls'," it said. 

"From the Middle East and East Africa to Southeast Asia, India is making its presence felt in both economics and security policy in ways that traditional great powers like Britain and France only wish they could match," The American interest said.