The reality of biggest democracy in the world

Today India is the biggest democracy of the world. The aim of Independence movement was to establish democracy in India. But what exactly Democracy means?

Elections were recently held in India, and the term “democracy” is often mentioned during campaigns. The opposite of democracy is authoritarianism, but many people misunderstand what democracy truly means.

In a democracy, loyalty to the constitution rather than to any political party or individual is fundamental to maintaining the integrity and stability of the system. The constitution is the supreme law of the land. Constitution protects the rights and freedom of citizens in democratic country.

The constitution creates a system where different parts of the government keep each other in check, so no one part or person gets too much power. Being loyal to the constitution means respecting this system and making sure it works properly. This way, government actions are watched and leaders can be held responsible for what they do.

In a democracy, people should watch what the government does and criticize it when it acts unfairly, instead of defending it with unreasonable excuses. This is a key responsibility for every citizen in a democratic country.

In a democracy, you have the right to question the government on any issue. Citizens should use this right to improve society and the country. Transparency is essential in a democracy. Every law should be made to benefit society as a whole, not just individual people.

What is democracy?

Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. It is characterized by principles such as political equality, majority rule, and protection of individual and minority rights. In a democracy, the rule of law prevails, ensuring that all citizens are subject to the same laws and have equal access to justice. Fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and the press, are protected to enable active participation in the political process.

Principal of democracy are as follows:

1. Popular Sovereignty: The authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.
2. Political Equality: All citizens have equal rights and opportunities to participate in the political process, including voting, running for office, and engaging in political discourse.
3. Majority Rule with Minority Rights: While the majority’s decision typically prevails, a democracy also protects the rights and interests of minority groups to ensure fairness and prevent oppression.
4. Rule of Law: All individuals and institutions, including the government, are subject to the law. Laws are applied equally and fairly to maintain order and protect citizens’ rights.
5. Free and Fair Elections: Elections are conducted regularly and fairly, with all eligible citizens having the right to vote and run for public office. This ensures that the government acts in accordance with the wishes of the populace.
6. Protection of Fundamental Rights: Democracies guarantee certain basic rights and freedoms to all citizens, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press.
7. Pluralism: A democracy supports a diversity of opinions, cultures, and lifestyles, encouraging debate and discussion to reach consensus or compromise.
8. Accountability and Transparency: Government officials are accountable to the people, and their actions and decisions are open to public scrutiny. Transparency in governance helps prevent corruption and misuse of power.

In the election process public gives maximum choices to votes. If there is no choice or alternative available for voting then there is no democracy. For example China, In China election is conducted but there is just one party and citizen can vote to that party only. There is no competition between the parties and no choice of voting. Therefore, we can say that there no democracy in China.

Fundamental rights are crucial in a democracy. In authoritarian countries like Afghanistan, people lack basic rights, and women can’t freely access education, work, or drive. In contrast, in democratic countries like the USA, everyone enjoys fundamental rights.

For a country to be truly democratic, elections must be conducted fairly and transparently.

In essence, democracy is about creating a system where individuals have a say in how they are governed, where their rights are protected, and where the rule of law prevails to ensure fairness and justice.

Democracy Index:

The Democracy Index evaluates the state of democracy in 167 countries, assessing them based on various indicators.

1. Electoral Process
2. Functioning government
3. Political participation
4. Political culture
5. Civil liberties

As per EIU report 2023 is a challenging year for democracy, the global average score dropped to its lowest since the index started in 2006. Only less than 8% of the world’s population live in full democracies, while nearly 40% live under authoritarian regimes number that has been growing. Increasing violent conflicts have hurt the global democracy score and hindered recovery from the 2020-22 pandemic.

Also read the blog: When Will We Emerge as a Developed Society for girls? https://www.globetact.com/cross-cultural/social/when-will-we-emerge-as-a-developed-society-for-girls/

As per article published in The Hindu

India’s shift towards authoritarianism has been noted, including significant declines in freedom of expression and media independence, as well as increased crackdowns on social media and harassment of journalists critical of the government. The report highlights that the BJP government uses sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism laws to silence critics.

The Modi-led government also restricts religious freedom and intimidates political opponents and protesters, with dissent in academia being common. The report adds that Bhutan is the only liberal democracy in South and Central Asia.

India’s democracy ranking has declined over the past 10 years, according to factual reports.

Understand the difference between Democracy and Authoritarianism:

The four pillars of democracy typically refer to:

Legislature: The branch responsible for making laws.

Executive: The branch responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.

Judiciary: The branch responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring justice.

Media: The fourth estate responsible for informing the public and holding the government accountable. I have written blog on importance of independence of media. For more clarity read the same. Link is https://www.globetact.com/global-business/independence-of-media-in-india-is-compromised/

These pillars work together to uphold democratic principles and ensure a balance of power within a democratic system.

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