1. Introduction
India, a country with a population of over1.3 billion, is frequently hailed as the world's largest republic. still, in recent times, the country has been facing review for its popular practices. In this composition, we will bandy India's ranking on the Democracy Index by V- Dem and the examens levelled against the country.
2. What is Democracy Index?
The Democracy Index is an periodic indicator collected by the Economist Intelligence Unit( EIU) since 2006. It ranks 167 countries grounded on their popular practices and institutions. The indicator is grounded on five orders, videlicet, electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, performing of government, political participation, and political culture.
3. India’s Ranking on Democracy Index
India's ranking on the Democracy Index has been shifting over the times. In 2020, India was ranked 53rd in Asia and 108th in the world, with a score of6.61 out of 10. The country's ranking has declined from the 41st position in 2006. India's ranking in the Democracy Index is lower than its neighbours similar as Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
4. Factors Affecting India’s Democracy Index Ranking
There are various factors that affect India's ranking on the Democracy Index. Some of them are:
4.1 Corruption
India has been agonized with corruption at colorful situations of government. Corruption has led to the corrosion of trust in the government and the institutions. Corruption has also led to the unstable distribution of coffers, thereby affecting the country's popular practices.
4.2 Political Violence
India has witnessed political violence, particularly during choices. Political violence affects the country's popular practices as it hinders the free and fair conduct of choices.
4.3 Censorship and Freedom of Speech
India has been criticised for suppression and the curtailment of freedom of speech. The government has been indicted of suppressing dissent and limiting the space for free expression. This affects the country's popular practices as it hinders the free exchange of ideas.
4.4 Discrimination and Social Inequality
India has been criticised for demarcation and social inequality grounded on estate, religion, and gender. Demarcation and social inequality affect the country's popular practices as they hamper equal participation in the popular process.
4.5 Election Process
India's election process has been criticised for colorful reasons similar as the abuse of plutocrat power, criminalisation of politics, and the lack of translucency. These factors affect the free and fair conduct of choices, which is a foundation of a popular system.
4.6 Religious and Ethnic Minorities
India has been criticised for its treatment of religious and ethnical nonages. nonages have been targeted for violence, demarcation, and rejection, which affects their participation in the popular process.
4.7 Media Independence
India has been criticised for its lack of media independence. The government has been indicted of snooping with the media and suppressing critical reporting. intelligencers have been targeted and wearied, which has a nipping effect on freedom of the press. The lack of media independence affects the free inflow of information and hinders the functioning of a popular system.
4.8 Human Rights
India has been criticised for its mortal rights record. The government has been indicted of violating mortal rights, particularly in relation to issues similar as police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and the treatment of captures. The violation of mortal rights undermines the popular principles of equivalency and justice.
4.9 Economic Factors
India's profitable factors have also been cited as affecting the country's popular practices. The country has high situations of profitable inequality, which affects the capability of citizens to share inversely in the popular process. profitable factors also impact the position of corruption and the distribution of coffers, affecting the functioning of popular institutions.
4.10 Education and Literacy
Education and knowledge situations have been linked as affecting India's popular practices. Low situations of education and knowledge affect the capability of citizens to share meaningfully in the popular process. It also affects the capability of citizens to hold tagged representatives responsible.
5. Criticisms of India’s Democracy Index Ranking by V-Dem
India's ranking on the Democracy Index by V- Dem has been criticised by the Indian government and some judges. The government has criticised the methodology of the indicator, stating that it's prejudiced and doesn't take into account the country's unique challenges. Some judges have also criticised the indicator, stating that it doesn't capture the nuances of India's popular practices.
Still, critics of the Indian government have argued that the country's declining ranking on the indicator is reflective of a worrying trend in the country's popular practices. They've cited issues similar as the corrosion of freedom of expression, the repression of dissent, and the targeting of nonages as substantiation of the country's declining popular practices.
6. Conclusion
India's ranking on the Democracy Index by V- Dem highlights the challenges the country faces in maintaining a robust and vibrant popular system. Issues similar as corruption, political violence, demarcation, and suppression affect the functioning of popular institutions and hamper the capability of citizens to share meaningfully in the popular process. While there may be examens of the indicator, the declining ranking of India on the indicator is reflective of the need for the country to address these challenges and strengthen its popular practices.

