World's best metropolises: No Indian city in top 40!

How many Indian cities score high on the Global Cities Index? Well, none!

Even as five of the world's 10 most global cities are in Asia and the Pacific -- Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, and Seoul -- not a single Indian city figures among the top 40 cities of the world.

India's metros lag behind many other developed cities of the world. New Delhi is ranked at 45, followed by Mumbai at 46 and Kolkata at 63, out of the 65 cities surveyed. India's IT capital Bengaluru is ranked at a dismal 58. In terms of GDP, Mumbai ranks 25th, Delhi 32nd, Kolkata 44th and Bengaluru 53rd.

"The 21st century will not be dominated by America or China, Brazil or India, but by the city," said a report released by Foreign Policy magazine in collaboration with global management consulting firm AT Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

"The cities rather than states are becoming the islands of governance on which the future world order will be built," the report said.

Click NEXT to to check out which are the world's top most cities . . .

1. New York

New York is ranked as the No. 1 truly global city. Ranked 2nd in gross domestic product (GDP) and 6th in terms of population, it tops the charts on various parameters. 

The study takes into account business activity, human capital, information exchange to its cultural experience and political engagement.

The data also scrutinised how many Fortune Global 500 company headquarters were in a city to the size of its capital markets and the flow of goods through its airports and ports, as well as factors such as the number of embassies, think tanks, political organisations, and museums, the study states.

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2. London

London, a growing business hub and a city gearing up for 2012 Summer Olympics, comes second among the global cities. Capital of the United Kingdom and the 28th most populated city, London is ranked 5th in terms of GDP.

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3. Tokyo

The most populated city, Tokyo, is also the No. 1 city in terms of GDP.

Only four of the top 10 cities are national capitals. Washington comes in at No. 13. Beijing (15) edges out Berlin (16), which trounces Moscow (25).

Tokyo, meanwhile, took the third spot in terms of the top global cities in the world.

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4. Paris

The French capital is the fourth 'most global city' and is particularly known for its art and architecture. Paris ranks 6th in GDP and 20th in population.

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5. Hong Kong

Asserting Asia's prominence among global cities is Hong Kong ranked at 5th position. It is ranked at 14th in terms of GDP and 31st in population.

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6. Chicago

American cities continue to dominate the list with Chicago at No 6. Ranked 4th in GDP, it is the 25th most populated city.

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7. Los Angeles

Los Angeles, the third American city among the top global cities, is ranked at 3rd in terms of GDP and 12th in terms of population.

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8. Singapore

The highly developed financial hub, Singapore storms into the top 10 rankings. It is 23rd in terms of GDP and 38th in terms of population.

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9. Sydney

Sydney has been ranked as 9th among the world's top global cities. It is ranked 24th in GDP and 43rd in terms of population.

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10. Seoul

Winding up the top 10 list of top global cities is another Asian city, Seoul. Seoul is ranked 19th in terms of GDP and 22nd in terms of population.