V-Dem report ranks India as one of top ten autocratisers in recent times
Notes India is no longer termed democracy, but “dropped down to electoral autocracy in 2018
In a significant revelation, the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) report has placed India in the bottom 40-50% of 179 countries assessed, citing a sharp decline in democratic values since 2013. The report positions India between Niger (higher ranking) and Ivory Coast (lower ranking).
Alarming trends suggest that India has become one of the top ten autocratisers globally, resulting in a democratic regression to levels last observed in 1975. Notably, India now holds the disconcerting distinction of hosting nearly half of the population residing in countries undergoing autocratisation.
Democracy Deterioration: A Global Phenomenon
The V-Dem report underscores a global surge in autocratisation, with 42 countries, encompassing 35% of the world's population, experiencing this trend. India, home to 18% of the global population, contributes significantly to the burgeoning autocratisation phenomenon. The report points out that India, which was formerly recognized as a democracy, transitioned to an "electoral autocracy" in 2018 and continues in that state as of the end of 2023.
Key Findings from the V-Dem Report:
1. Autocratisation Timeline:
The process of autocratisation in India gained momentum around 2008 and has followed the incremental patterns typical of the "third wave." The report suggests a gradual erosion of freedom of expression, media independence, and social media crackdowns, underscoring concerns over democratic backsliding.
2. Global Comparison:
India's autocratisation trajectory places it among the worst-performing nations in recent times. The report highlights the South and Central Asia region as the second most autocratic globally, with over 90% of the population residing in electoral autocracies.
3. Component Indices Analysis:
Liberal Democracy Index (LDI):** India ranks 104th, exhibiting a score decline, reflecting both liberal and electoral aspects of democracy. Pakistan, for context, stands at 119th.
- Electoral Democracy Index (EDI): India holds the 110th position, indicating challenges in holding fair elections and freedom of expression. The Clean Elections Index shows substantial deterioration, impacting 18 countries, including India.
- Liberal Component Index: Ranking 92nd, this index evaluates the protection of individual and minority rights. India demonstrates a decline in scores.
- Egalitarian Component Index: India's lowest ranking (137th) is in this index, measuring social groups' equal participation in politics.
4. Regional Context:
South and Central Asia emerge as the second most autocratic region globally, with 93% of the population residing in electoral autocracies. Bhutan stands out as the sole liberal democracy, emphasizing the regional democratic deficit.
Concerns Raised by V-Dem:
The report underscores India's diminishing environment for religious freedoms, citing instances of suppressing freedom of religion rights. It highlights the government's use of sedition and defamation laws to silence critics, indicating an erosion of constitutional commitments.
Digital Repression and Media Control:
The V-Dem report criticizes India's handling of dissent and digital repression, citing instances of internet shutdowns. India has been labeled the "Internet Shutdown Capital" for five consecutive years, accounting for 58% of global shutdowns last year. Social media control is flagged, with India, along with other countries, successfully censoring political content on platforms.
Global Impact:
India's demographic weight contributes significantly to the global autocratisation narrative, with 44% of the world's population residing in electoral autocracies. The report notes that developments in India drive many dramatic global trends, reflecting a 48% increase in the population living under autocracies.
“There is a rise by 48% of those living under autocracies. Also, “44% of the world’s population, or 3.5 billion people – reside in electoral autocracies, which include populous countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, The Philippines, and Türkiye.”
The V-Dem or Varieties of Democracy project, has been “measuring democracy” via “a multidimensional and disaggregated dataset that reflects the complexity of the concept of democracy as a system of rule that goes beyond the simple presence of elections.
The V-Dem project distinguishes between five high-level principles of democracy: electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian, and collects data to measure these principles.” The V-Dem institute is at the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
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MP boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 10 with recovery of one more body; 3 tourists still missing
Jabalpur (PTI): The body of a child was retrieved on Saturday evening from Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, raising the death toll in the cruise boat tragedy that took place two days ago to ten, while search continued for three missing tourists.
The boat, operated by the state tourism department, capsized during a storm on Thursday evening with some of the survivors alleging negligence and safety lapses such as life jackets not being distributed in time.
The body recovered on Saturday evening was possibly that of six-year-old Viraj Soni, said Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Anjul Ayank Mishra.
"The identity will be confirmed after family members identify the body," he told PTI.
Kamraj, an employee of the Ordnance Factory at Khamaria, his five-year-old son Tamil, and another child Mayuram (5) who had come from southern India were still missing.
Authorities have arranged equipment to search deep waters of the dam and are getting a generator to facilitate diving operations, Mishra added.
Divers and disaster response teams have expanded the search radius to five km, he said.
Of the 41 identified passengers on board the ill-fated vessel, 28 were rescued, police said.
More than 200 rescuers, including around 20 Army divers airlifted from Agra, joined the search operation that resumed at 5 on Saturday morning. The operation, involving the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and local divers, was briefly affected at around 9 am due to strong winds, officials said.
Post-mortem examinations of nine deceased persons have been completed, Mishra said.
"Our priority is to search for the missing persons. We will also register a First Information Report in the case soon," he said.
Police said CCTV footage near the boarding point showed 43 people heading towards the boat while the identities of 41 passengers have been confirmed so far.
The state government on Friday ordered a probe into the tragedy and dismissed three crew members. It also banned operation of similar vessels in the state.
