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Recently, the irregularities in the election process disclosed were unfortunate; even worse is the silence of ECI (Election Commission of India). In the earlier press conference, the statements recorded by the CEC (Chief Election Commission) were not digested by the common citizens, and thus they were trolled heavily on media, especially the unregulated social media.
Such irresponsibility by a constitutional or non-constitutional body erodes public trust in the government and the state. Faith—the founding stone of the state—must be protected and strengthened by its key element: the government. It’s the duty of the government to build and maintain the faith of society in its organized form, which is the state, the well-structured and organized form of the society.
As the social contract theory suggests, the state exists through an agreement between the ruler and the ruled—one that defines rights and duties for both. Possessing sovereign power, the state carries the obligation to exercise it with righteousness and fairness. The nature of responsibility varies from political and socio-cultural, to economic spheres. For instance, it is the government that guarantees sovereign bonds issued by the RBI, ensuring public trust in those instruments.
The Indian constitution is the indigenous agreement where citizens and government both are given their rights as well as duties. Moreover, the constitution mentions mechanisms to establish institutions for good governance and effective promise delivery. The promise is to keep the faith of its people in the state and their agreement, i.e., constitution.
Nevertheless, if the faith breaks, then it might bring anarchy to that society, create conditions of civil war, and cause the economy to collapse. This has already been witnessed in Nepal’s GenZ protest (2025) and in Bangladesh.
Faith is not limited to electoral integrity alone. It extends to every pillar of the state’s concern—the judiciary, media, civil services, market, and even the religious institution, which in India is the duty of the state to promote religious harmony, equality, and quick justice. When these institutions act with transparency, accountability, and fairness, they reinforce the intangible bond between the citizen and state. But when corruption, bias, inefficiency, and indifference to citizens’ concerns seep in, even the most progressive policies lose credibility.
Faith is the moral energy that sustains the nation even in times of crisis. When economies fall, armies retreat, governments fail, or even external threats from deep states arise, it is faith that keeps a civilization from collapsing. It is not merely the constitution but the conscience of citizens that gives endurance to a state. The erosion of this invisible moral capital is far more dangerous than any fiscal deficit. Thus it should not be taken for granted and must be respected for the essence it carries.
In the age of information outflow and rapid societal transformation, truth is often buried under narratives. When institutions communicate poorly, people fill the silence with suspicion. As observed during Operation Sindoor, Indian government despite having upper hand failed to deliver timely news of ceasefire which gave room to others for setting up narratives, consequences of which are still felt. The rise of social media outrage, selective leaks, and conspiracy narratives reflects a deeper anxiety — a fear that the state no longer listens. Restoring faith, therefore, requires not control but credible, effective communication and moral clarity from those in power.
The restoration of faith cannot be achieved through force or propaganda but through consistent and quick justice, humility in behaviour, efficiency in governance, and effectiveness in grievance redressal. Each November, Delhi’s pollution returns with a smirk. Despite knowing the challenge, implications, and ways to tackle it, still government fails to deliver an AQI less than 300. This not only frustrates people but also forces them to question every penny of trust, money, time, and energy they are investing. The state must appear not as a ruler, but as a partner in progress. Each fair verdict, each transparent policy, and each honest apology adds a brick to the wall of trust. The architecture of faith is built slowly – one action at a time.
The real measure of state strength lies not only in GDP or GDP growth but also in the trust its people hold for its word. India, being one of the oldest civilizations, carries the depth of principles in individuals and the overall conscience of the society. We have a long journey to travel, and timely checks on fuel are a necessity—faith is the fuel of the state. Therefore, reforms are mandatory to keep the tank full. One such reform can be that if a majority of voters press NOTA on EVM (Electronic Voting Machine), then a fresh election with new candidates must be held. Such measures will recalibrate the trust of people, because when faith fades, power becomes hollow; but when faith thrives, even an imperfect state becomes a collective destiny. Faith is not a luxury of governance—it is its lifeline.
Ayush Kumar Sen
Independent Writer; Public Policy & Geopolitical Analyst
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.