In the throes of 2024, democracy finds itself at a crucial crossroads, with half the globe’s population poised to exercise their electoral rights. India, hosting a quarter of these voters, becomes a pivotal stage for what is arguably democracy’s most rigorous examination to date. Yet, as India braces for this monumental event, its democratic credentials face intense scrutiny from global indices, casting a shadow over its democratic integrity. The V-Dem Institute’s characterization of India as a severe “autocratiser” and the downgrade by several other indices paint a concerning picture of India’s democratic health.These indices, while striving for a comprehensive appraisal of democracies worldwide, inadvertently introduce biases that may not fully capture the on-ground realities of governance. India’s proposed endeavor to craft its own democracy index, spearheaded by the Observer Research Foundation, emerges as a response to these critiques. This move reflects a growing dissatisfaction with international parameters, perceived as misaligned with India’s democratic ethos and realities.

However, the journey to a more equitable assessment of democracy is not without its pitfalls. The challenge lies in crafting an index that transcends the limitations of its predecessors, ensuring a balanced and nuanced representation of India’s democratic landscape. The endeavor to establish a high degree of concept-measure consistency, as advocated by scholars, underscores the complexity of encapsulating democracy in a singular measure. As the world watches, the creation of an indigenous democracy index by India is not merely an academic exercise but a statement of intent. It signifies India’s determination to assert its democratic identity on its own terms, challenging the prevailing narratives shaped by external assessments. While global democracy indices offer valuable insights into global democratic trends, the quest for a more representative and equitable measure is both necessary and timely. India’s initiative to chart its own course in evaluating democracy underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of democratic governance itself, reminding us that democracy, in all its forms, remains a work in progress.

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