Challenges threatening India’s Democracy

Challenges threatening India’s democracy

The term ‘democracy’ comes from the Greek word demokratia which means “rule of the people”. It was coined from two words: demos that means “people” and Kratos which refers to “power”. That is, in a democracy the power rests with the people. This meaning is based on the experiences of the governments that existed in some of the Greek city-states, notably Athens.

Cause of Challenges threatening India’s democracy

The challenges come both from prevailing domestic and international conditions as well as lack of adequate prerequisites for a smooth functioning of democracy. These are-

Illiteracy: Illiteracy among people was a matter of grave concern for the successful functioning of democracy in India on the eve of independence and it still continues to be a major challenge.

Poverty: It is generally said that for a hungry person right to vote does not have any meaning. For him/her the first requirement is food. Therefore, poverty is considered as the greatest bane of democracy.

Gender Discrimination: Discrimination against girls and women exists in every walk of life. You must have had such experiences of prevailing gender inequality in our society and polity. But we know that gender equality is one of the basic principles of democracy.

Areas of concern for India? 

1. Recession: The Indian economy is in recession and is among the worst-performing among major nations
2. Cybersecurity attack: India ranked second only to the US among the countries most impacted by the ransomware.

1. Concerns with India’ foreign relation: (i) India-China dispute– China unwillingness to reach a reasonable settlement along the Line of Actual Control. (ii) India-Pakistan relations– China and Pakistan have signed a new military memorandum of understanding to boost their already close defence relationship.

1. West Asia: India has to balance its ties with all regional power in west Asia

Internal actions seem like threatening democracy in India? 

1. Revoking of Article 370: The government abolished the article that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcates the state into two separate union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
2. The anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act: The CAA is disturbing because it makes problematic distinctions between different groups of people based on religion and is pursuing a divide and rule policy
3. Electoral wins at any cost: Winning at any cost has become the sole motif of certain parties. The election is turning into conflict zones, they have become tinderboxes for communal, caste, political and other forms of violence. Majority versus the minority has become the stock-in-trade of some parties.

1. Constitutional protections and principles of natural justice as also freedom of the individual are at risk

1. Restrictions on Social media freedom: India is beginning to clamp down on social media platforms and enacts draconian laws.
2. Farmer’s protest: Latest example of imposing a measure without due discussion and acceptance of farmer and opposition.