India's democracy rating hits lowest point in nearly 50 years

India's democratic health has deteriorated to levels not seen in nearly half a century, according to fresh data from the V-Dem Institute, a Sweden-based research organization that tracks global democratic trends. The assessment marks a significant decline in India's standing on the democratic index, reflecting concerns that have mounted over the past several years regarding institutional independence and electoral participation.

The V-Dem Institute's rating places India at its weakest democratic position since 1975, the year following the declaration of the Emergency under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The downgrade comes amid mounting international scrutiny of India's democratic institutions and practices.

The research organisation's findings are corroborated by observations from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which has flagged concerns about the systematic exclusion of large segments of voters from the democratic process. These international assessments suggest structural challenges affecting India's electoral inclusivity and democratic participation.

The V-Dem Institute measures democracies using multiple indicators including electoral integrity, civil liberties, checks and balances, and political participation. India's decline across these metrics reflects broader concerns raised by democratic watchdogs and civil society organizations about institutional erosion and governance challenges in Asia's largest democracy.