Indians take pride in being citizens of the world’s largest democracy. Yet, behind this proud self-image lies a troubling erosion of democratic values. According to the 2024 V-Dem report, India’s Liberal Democracy Index has slumped from 0.58 in 2000 to 0.29 in 2024—cut almost in half. The index, which measures the democratic health of countries, suggests that India’s democratic foundations have been steadily weakening over more than two decades.
This decline is not confined to a single metric. Core components of democratic health have deteriorated across the board. For example, civic society engagement and electoral participation, as measured by the Participation Index, have fallen from 0.79 to 0.5 between 2000 and 2023. The Representation Index—reflecting credible elections, free and competitive political parties, and legislative effectiveness—has also slipped from 0.72 to 0.5. Civil liberties have seen a similar decline, with scores dropping from 0.65 to 0.5. These figures reflect a system becoming less inclusive, less accountable, and increasingly vulnerable to executive overreach.
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