V-dem’s democracy index rates India at its lowest since 1975, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute report indicates India's electoral democracy index is at its lowest since 1975.
• The report classifies India as "autocratising," citing a systematic dismantling of democratic institutions.
• India's scores have declined significantly in areas such as judicial accountability, autonomy of the Election Management Body (EMB), and impartial public administration.
• The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed grave concern over reports of large-scale violations by law enforcement officials in India.
• CERD also raised concerns regarding the exclusion of a large number of voters, particularly Muslims, during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Detailed Insights:

• The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, based at the University of Gothenburg, employs a multidimensional approach using expert judgments to measure democratic qualities globally.
• India's democratic performance has shown a gradual decline since 2009, reaching levels comparable to the Emergency period of 1975.
• The report highlights a deterioration in academic and cultural expression freedoms, alongside increased harassment faced by journalists.
• The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is a body of independent experts that monitors state parties' compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
• CERD conducted its first review of India since 2007, with its observations aligning with findings of democratic backsliding.
• The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is an exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India to verify and update voter lists, aiming for accuracy but facing criticism regarding voter exclusions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Autocratisation: A process where a political regime gradually becomes less democratic, characterized by the erosion of civil liberties, electoral integrity, or checks on executive power.
• Electoral Democracy Index: A measure by V-Dem assessing the extent to which political leaders are elected in free and fair elections, with comprehensive voting rights and guaranteed freedoms of association and expression.
• UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD): A United Nations body of independent experts tasked with monitoring the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) by its state parties.
• Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls: A periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India involving house-to-house verification to update voter lists, ensuring accuracy by adding eligible voters and removing ineligible ones.