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Context: The latest V-Dem Democracy Report placed India’s Electoral Democracy Index score at its lowest level since 1975, continuing a decline observed since 2009.
What the Index Is
- A global framework measuring democracy using a multidimensional approach
- Rather than treating democracy merely as the conduct of elections
Dimensions evaluated:
- Electoral integrity
- Civil liberties
- Institutional autonomy
- Judicial accountability
- Freedom of expression
- Public administration
About
- Published by: the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Aim: measure and compare different dimensions of democracy, track progress or decline over time, and identify trends such as democratisation and autocratisation.
Key Findings on India
- Lowest since 1975: Electoral Democracy Index score at its lowest level since 1975, according to V-Dem.
- Autocratisation: India is identified as undergoing slow autocratisation, marked by weakening democratic institutions.
- Institutional decline: Judicial accountability, corruption control, election-body autonomy and impartial administration show major deterioration.
- Media & expression: Decline in freedom of expression and media, with increased harassment of journalists.
- Academic freedom: Declines in academic expression, research/teaching freedom and institutional autonomy.
What “Autocratisation” Means
Autocratisation is the gradual erosion of democratic institutions, as distinct from a sudden coup or breakdown.
Important Facts for Exams
- V-Dem — Varieties of Democracy Institute, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Publishes the annual Democracy Report
- India’s Electoral Democracy Index at its lowest since 1975, the year the Emergency was declared
- India described as undergoing slow autocratisation
- Indicators at 50-year lows: judicial accountability, corruption, Election Management Body autonomy, impartial public administration
- Five V-Dem indices: Electoral, Liberal, Participatory, Deliberative, Egalitarian
- The Electoral Democracy Index is based on the polyarchy concept of Robert Dahl
- Other democracy indices: Freedom House “Freedom in the World”, and the EIU Democracy Index (which classifies countries as full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime or authoritarian)
- India’s Emergency: 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977, under Article 352
