New Delhi: The fifth annual democracy report by Sweden’s V-Dem Institute, titled ‘Autocratisation goes viral’, has downgraded India from “the world’s largest democracy” to an “electoral autocracy”, citing “muzzling” of the media, and overuse of defamation and sedition laws.
V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) claims to produce the largest dataset on democracy with almost 30 million data points for 202 countries from 1789 to 2020.
This report comes within a week of US watchdog Freedom House downgrading India’s status to “partly free” in its ‘Freedom in the World’ report.
While India’s score was at an all-time high at 0.57 (on a scale of 0-1) in 2013, it had declined to 0.34 by the end of 2020 — a loss of 23 percentage points in seven years. “Most of the decline occurred following BJP’s victory in 2014 and their Hindu nationalist agenda,” says the report.
“India is, in this aspect (censorship) now as autocratic as is Pakistan, and worse than both its neighbors Bangladesh and Nepal. In general, the Modi-led government in India has used laws on sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism to silence critics. For example, over 7,000 people have been charged with sedition after the BJP assumed power and most of the accused are critics of the ruling party,” says the report.
It adds that the use of defamation “frequently used to silence journalists” and the use of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have placed constraints on civil society and gone against the Constitution’s commitment to secularism.
“Amended in August 2019 (it) is being used to harass, intimidate, and imprison political opponents, as well as people mobilizing to protest government policies. The UAPA has been used also to silence dissent in academia. Universities and authorities have also punished students and activists in universities engaging in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).”
The report notes that civil society is being increasingly muzzled while organisations aligned with the “Hindutva movement” have gained freedom. “The BJP have increasingly used the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) to restrict the entry, exit and functioning of Civil Society Organisations (CSO),” it says.
Also Read: Why India has slipped to ‘partly free’ category on freedom index & how countries are scored
Democracy on the decline
The fifth annual report by the organisation summarises the state of democracies of the world against the backdrop of developments that have taken place over the past decade.
The report finds that liberal democracies have diminished over the past decade from 41 countries to 32 countries.
“The global decline during the past 10 years is steep and continues in 2020, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. The level of democracy enjoyed by the average global citizen in 2020 is down to levels last found around 1990,” says the report.
It adds that what it calls “electoral autocracies” remain the most popular regime type, and along with closed autocracies, number 87 states, home to 68 per cent of the world’s population.
It also notes an accelerating wave of autocratisation engulfing 25 nations, home to one-third of the world’s population — that is 2.6 billion people. “Several G20 nations such as Brazil, India, Turkey, and the United States of America are part of this drift,” says the report.
It also notes that the number of democratising countries has dropped by almost half to 16, hosting a mere 4 per cent of the global population.
Also Read: ‘Misleading, incorrect’ — govt issues point-by-point rebuttal to ‘partly free’ tag for India
If it is really autocracy, you would have not dared to print this.
The people in the comment self victimising themselves and vehemently objecting the ratings are, in all reality, an indication of how well this nonsensical hindutva ideology is swaying indians en masse. Sad state of affairs!
To these people who would kill their own mother so they can stuck their heads in the sand and dream the hindutva dream, here’s a friendly reminder:
Some centuries ago when India was in the exact authoritarian, monarchial system that you so highly wish for, some Saudi Afghan Turkish blokes just walk over it.
100% correct
Throw this report in dustbin, why to believe in rubbish studies, used as a mean to defame India.
The reason cited there in are the once which were actually positive for Indian regardless of whatever the International standards says or accept, because its our nation, our place and we know what suits us better regardless of the fact what others think, if its suits us, its acceptable.
Moreover, the study is hinduphobic and biased having an hidden agenda or a way to downgrade Hinduism and on the other hand peach and promote the religion based on the agenda.
So, Ignore such studies and have faith in India and our system, its for our betterment and growth regardless the fact what this so called pseudo learned things.
We do not need their certificate.
Directly why did you not say that you want to make your newspaper famous by criticising world’s best leader,afterall it is part of your United Nation right to food and shelter ????
Ashok Swain behind this probably
Well , nothing to worry, just dig bit deeper, this article and the so founded study is in retaliation to the Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, fiasco with indian government againt the farmers protest. These study are just one off thing funded by the same sect of anti – India rant.
Stop all relations with this so called country Sweden a 3rd class nation
Sweden should focus on refugees destroying their country instead of bashing India with fake stats. People should watch YouTube channel “string”
Sweden. We are not buying your fighter jets anyhow!
Incredible India was never free. Fake perception eventually dies in the long run no matter how Indian media manipulate its cause. Abraham Lincoln once said. You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
I just wonder why are we taken for granted… It’s almost like we Indians are id*ots… Electoral autocracy:- What does it even mean??? Basically news in India is getting stup*der, I came back to check on news today and it’s same as 2months back. Sad and desparate, waiting for some reader reaction. There are 100problems going on. No news channel reports from the field these days. Where is a theprint report on difficulties in MSME, Startup India not working, Problems with Administration and corruption. Nothing
I just wonder why are we taken for granted… It’s almost like we Indians are idiots… Electoral autocracy:- What does it even mean??? Basically news in India is getting stupider, I came back to check on news today and it’s same as 2months back. Sad and desparate, waiting for some reader reaction. There are 100problems going on. No news channel reports from the field these days. Where is a theprint report on difficulties in MSME, Startup India not working, Problems with Administration and corruption. Nothing
The morons living in their paradise want countries like india to foeever remain backward, we have our own systems that is better than europe, who cares, time will.come when they will eat their own words. The white skin people want to still rule the world. It shows how pale with low IQ they have not developed in the last 400 years after the plague ravages them
When it comes to development we keep our targets on Singapore. But when it comes to autocracy we see headlines like these. Why not compare to Singapore again. My uncle lives in Singapore and it is more autocratic than India. But you see that won’t fit your agenda. Ive lived here my whole life and I’ve never felt I was living in an autocratic country, except for the lockdowns, which I oppose..
What a rubbish .these culture less europian now teaching us
What does Sweden knows about India. Here Media,People and institutions has the full right to speak against the government. Here Muslims also live in harmony. In Pakistan does Hindu live in harmony. How can they compare India with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Indian natural culture is outspoken overdoing n obstinate type. Its not that I am critical of the population but we aryans are aggressive and prefer doing the opposite way. We are not like timid European race neither quiet like the British. To tame us we need autocratic rule at leady for 10 years as Netaji our great leader believed – a nations just being free requires autocracy to make thingS in order. So if its autocracy be it. Its for our betterment and to tame the Europeans one day.
European self proclaimed illiterate jokers who were not knowing civilization and espionage Indian vedic knowledge are now days very active in teaching India and Indians democracy. Such nonsense is simply ridiculous
As per my observation of Indian politics for last 35 yrs, the space of discourse and discussion has been reduced greatly since BJP came into power especially after 2019 as it got absolute majority in parliament. The cause used by BJP to come in power was usage of feeling of Hindus people and some sort of appeasement of Muslims by Congress. The biggest causality happened to the concept of Indians, now people are no more recognized as Indian rather than Hindu or anti-national.
Opinion of group of liberandus…and published by print says it all
I forecast next great democracy report on India by ‘NED : NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY’ from US.
Because, our indigenous Crazy Demon on a mission to discredit, Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta is a member of ‘FORUM RESEARCH COUNCIL’ here. 🙂
We earn our money by hard work. But these scholars earn loads of money by demonizing own country.
World problem is Monkey Politicians they all behave like Monkeys ..
No Bangladeshi news paper published anything about AlJazeera documentary about massive corruption in the army, but this report says India is worse?
This goes along with trope of western intellectuals thinking, that we are not good enough to rule.
What rubbish first give the link of the report and second do you guys even know that this report uses actual data or is it influenced by someone else
I don’t understand whonare these people to decide about our democratic institution and its functioning who are they decide ranking. First of all let them look into tgeir system and probkems of their country. These agencies are doing things beyond their limit. Its better for them to restrict themselves to their nation and ygeir government’s functiin and not to poke nose in others internal affairs…
In Scandinavia, Sweden is the most RACIST COUNTRY. They should FIRST LEARN EQUALITY. POINT YOUR FINGER ON US IF YOU ARE PERFECT. OTHERWISE KEEP QUIET.
Is the pot calling the kettle black ? Who gave theae people to.authoruty and the moral standing to comment on how our cootuntry is turning into an autocracy and is no longer a democracy?
We need not to take democracy certificate from Sweeden and here is the elected government which itself proves that democracy is alive here, they all are fear of growing image of India in the world and also one of the reason is blocking of foreign funding to NGOs who are involved in anti-national activities
and deliberately disrupt the social harmony of our country with that money.
We all know the agenda of a leftist,anti hindu ,anti India it’s not affected india keep your business ??????
When this report came out, I googled V-dem and went into their website. It had the usual suspects in its advisory board:
1. Pratap Bhanu Mehta and
2. JNU professor.
If I again visit their website now, mysteriously, ‘PB Mehta’ name is ‘missing’. Just within few hours !! 🙂
Daal mein kuch kaala hai !!
Paid media. And paid institute. Both coming together with ulterior move to destabilize a great country.
Sweden need to take care of themselves as it will have no freedom to express soon.
Christian mind set always says this..Sweden is currepted country and they allow all cheaters of the world to deposit their black money in their country which is Swiss Bank. Shame to Sweden. They don’t like Hindhu revival. They are trying to say convert all Hindhus into Christianity then India will become great country..First they publish this kind of articles through Christian missionary back up NGO’s then our anti India brigade start saying this article and destroy India.. Cheap games..we all know…
Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche har zubaan par … Felt very happy to see an 82 year old Farooq Abdullah grooving to this song recently.
Isn’t this the kind of negative journalism expected from The Print?
They hunt for negative news about India in any nuke and corner in this world and then glorify it as chmapion journalism content
Total rubbish ,
Why not Sweden increase its immigration quota, why not we are talking about freedom of basq and catalonia , lets free north Ireland its not a British territory , dont teach us morality of secularism , santanis were and are inherently secular, these jokers are taking money out of africa like bullion money dimond money and all kinds of illegal decoity they do, beacause of these NGO sterlite got closed and now we are net importer of Coper ,, its time to speak against this white bully race
Yawn yawn seems to be the year of boring reports from the west which the media in india likes picking up and commenting upon , find about what central and state governments are doing or not doing for the people , go to every nook and corner of the country and report , contribute to the betterment of people . Copy paste Is not journalism , and no these idiotic ratings do not matter
Whenever i see SWEDEN, i smell conspiracy
Highly concerning as a series of global organizations presented grim picture of the country. Introspection is needed. Pls don’t troll me due to Muslim-sounding name. I remember a BJP spokesperson asks a Congress man, who happened to be a Hindu, “Aren’t you free?” when debate on intolerance towards Muslim was going on. If a BJP man lives for a day bearing Muslim name, he will understand the pain.
What nonsense, India is a more mature and better democracy than the US.
Good joke!
Than How come Rapiest R not / Hardly punished.
Re- Visit Monica & Clinton episode, Should eyes Opner for U.
Supreme court can’t take up a Rape victim letter , Laying 30 day, s at S. C. Registerar.
Why Kissan R sitting @ Delhi borders, Why Government waiting so long to talk to them and solve problems.
Sweeden need not comment on indian condition they are far behind our time line
They can only comment other than that their can’t contribute for better understanding. We know what’s to be done let them keep watching what will we do, India has better understanding of world better than any country on this Earth, it’s a challange
They are the most qualified organization in world for this…WHOSE JOB is too keep a check democracies around the world. THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES STUDYING ABOUT THIS. So what makes you qualified to criticise their work.
TOTALLY AGREE
FREEDOM THAT INDIAN ENJOYS 8N INDIA IN EVERY RESPECT IS BETTER THAN ANY COUNTR ON THIS PLANET
Biased nonsense from this irratiinal entity from whst we can describe as culturally decadent sweden. Do they know what life is like in pakistan or china or even bangladesh? Their antipathy is really against Hinduism and hindus. Their blind hstred is because we hindus are not from Christianity or islam.
Bangladesh have more per capita income than india, percentage of female working is also way too high in Bangladesh….. Come out of your bubble
No not vibrant. It ptoves that Indian Democracy still is alive in the ICU.
The Fact That This Article Has Been Published Is Proof That Indian Democracy Is Still Vibrant.
There is a fine difference between democracy and idiocracy. Idiots are always afriad of true democracy and are always in favour of leadership which doesn’t takes position.
India is not a democracy anymore…
It is theocratic due to Hindutva supremacy…
Is it then what was before.. Its not Hindu supremacy. Don’t worry even in supremacy we r benovolent and accodative.
And some Khangressi don’t even dare to share their names while Commenting…
Secondly, the Print is itself a Pro Paki journalism squad… Whoeven want a quick attention, joins The Print, The Quint, The Wire etc…
Standing together against comments which Sweden is putting on us should be our first priority, rather defaming India by it’s own citizens like you.
Once again, using their white man privledge to lecture a brown man of India.
Why print is always behind articles against Indian democracy or issues
If you want to do good journalism with partiotism print indian writers views or reports against / for other developed countries
Atleast Indians will be educated more .
India is better than any other countries in the world
Pm Modi is a very good person and has helped India in achieving a lot of success. Whereas when Congress was there they always promoted terrorism indirectly and due to this India was way behind other countries in development. And anyone who is saying that India is not a democratic country is not knowing enough about the politics. Because in India people elect the government and we all are extremely happy as PM Modi is a good leader. Also I want to tell that I am not a Hindu but a Jain and my religion is different but I don’t have any problems with BJP being the ruling party.
Don’t you fret over this, Ms. Misra. India will score high again once Congress is voted to power. Given the nature of our politics, Mr. Modi cannot go on forever and nor will Mr. Gandhi be the PM candidate-in-waiting forever. Ten or maybe fifteen years down the line things will be much different. And India will again be the darling of the international liberal/secular cabal.
U want R Gandhi to be our nxt PM, the one who cannot even keep his party intact and runs away everytime his party loses. He goes to Europe after instigating farmers. His party joins hands with the communist party in Bengal and Shiv sena in Maharashtra. What kind of ideology does he or his party have. Wake up from ur deep slumber of Gandhism, he is not Gandhi he is Nehru/ khan.
Secular lowda. It may taste good for people like you.
You are right. Modiji cannot go on for ever. We even have amit shah ji and yogiji to gollow him. But there is no way that any other party will take power from BJP. Until hindus like me exist. And about the article, the fact that it is published in India is a proof that India is free and democratic
The central govt is trying to silence the critics. But at the same time several media houses such as NDTV, The Wire, India Today and many regional outlets keep on bashing the govt and they too have freedom for that. The states such as Maharashtra where opposition in power, the trend seems to be exactly reverse or reactionary.
The BJP have increasingly used the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) to restrict the entry, exit and functioning of Civil Society Organisations (CSO),” it says.
In other words, funding has been blocked for purported NGOs blatently carrying out anti-national activities of every imaginable kind……. is it surprising that ratbag institutions like ‘V-Dem’ are crying wolf?
Snub them, just ignore these third raters.
Well said.. Thats the hurting thing.. To these missionaries.