# India's Electoral Democracy Index 2025 Falls to 0.38, Lowest Since 1975 Emergency

*V-Dem based index ranks India 106th among 179 countries, marking steady decline since 2009.*

**Polity & Governance · 4 Sep 2026 · GS: GS1, GS2, Essay · Exam yield: High**

## Why this matters

For UPSC, electoral democracy indices reveal the health of India's constitutional framework amid global backsliding. A low score impacts GS2 governance answers and Essay on democratic values.

## In plain words

Every year, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project releases a global report card on how democratic each country is. One key measure is the Electoral Democracy Index (EDI), which checks if elections are free, fair, and open to all, based on Robert Dahl’s idea of polyarchy—meaning many people can participate and oppose. In 2025, India’s EDI fell to 0.38 on a 0–1 scale, its lowest score since the 1975 Emergency (0.39), and it ranked 106th among 179 countries; Denmark topped at 0.9.

The slide has been steady since 2009, matching a global wave of autocratization—where countries gradually weaken democratic rights. V-Dem’s 2024 report noted India, with 18% of the world’s population, makes up about half of all people living in autocratizing countries. The index weighs factors like freedom of expression, association, and clean elections. In India, concerns flagged include rising curbs on civil society and election-related freebies, though the Election Commission of India (ECI) under Article 324 still conducts massive polls using Electronic Voting Machines that cut invalid votes.

Think of a cricket team’s net run rate: a small drop each match since 2009 has pushed India from mid-table to bottom-third by 2025. The index does not say elections are fake; it signals gradual erosion in the surrounding freedoms that make a vote meaningful. For aspirants, this is a lens to analyze governance, not a verdict on the ballot itself.

## Key facts

- India's electoral democracy index score for 2025 is 0.38, the lowest since 1975 (0.39 during Emergency).
- India ranked 106th among 179 countries in 2025.
- Denmark topped the scale with 0.9.
- Index shows gradual decline in India's performance since 2009.

## How we got here

The V-Dem dataset, built by over 4,200 scholars, tracks 600 attributes from 1789 to 2023 and forms the Liberal Democracy Index and Electoral Democracy Index. India’s constitutional electoral framework was laid in Part XV (Articles 324–329) of the 1950 Constitution, with Article 324 creating the independent Election Commission of India. The Representation of the People Act 1950 and 1951 operationalised rolls and poll disputes. Electronic Voting Machines debuted as prototypes in 1977 and fully replaced ballots by 2004, reducing invalid votes to under 1%. The 1975 Emergency saw EDI dip to 0.39 amid suspended freedoms. Post-2009, V-Dem records a gradual decline in India’s score, echoing its global finding that since 2009 more people live in autocratizing than democratizing states. The 2024 V-Dem report (v14) highlighted clean elections deteriorating in 23 countries. This chain sets the context for the 2025 low of 0.38.

## The bigger picture

**Constitutional — Constitutional Architecture of Electoral Autonomy**

Article 324 of the Constitution vests superintendence of elections in the Election Commission of India, with the Chief Election Commissioner protected from executive removal except via Supreme Court-style impeachment. The Representation of the People Act 1951 regulates corrupt practices. Despite this shield, V-Dem’s 2025 EDI drop to 0.38 suggests constitutional design alone cannot prevent slow erosion of electoral liberties without proactive enforcement.

→ Strong Article 324 framework contrasts with declining index scores.

**Political — Party Competition and Autocratization Trend**

V-Dem classifies episodes of regime transformation; its 2024 report states 42 countries are autocratizing, home to 2.8 billion people, with India comprising half that population share due to its 18% global share. Political debate centres on election freebies and criminalisation, with ADR reports urging decriminalisation. The steady post-2009 slide indicates weakening of multiparty contestation and civil society space.

→ India is central to global autocratization wave per V-Dem.

**International — Global Democracy Retreat Context**

The V-Dem Democracy Report 2025 (via Kevin Parker audit) finds 72% of world population now lives in autocracies, highest since 1978, and average democracy level back to 1985. Freedom House 2024 marks 18th year of decline. India’s rank 106 mirrors a broader South and Central Asia decline, while Latin America improved, showing uneven regional trajectories.

→ India’s dip aligns with worldwide democratic backsliding.

**Historical — Emergency Parallel and Democratic Resilience**

During the 1975–77 Emergency, civil liberties were suspended and V-Dem EDI hit 0.39. The 2025 score of 0.38 is marginally lower, but today’s context differs: regular elections and EVMs exist. The 39th Amendment (1975) later repealed reinforced ECI autonomy post-Emergency. History shows indices recover with institutional resolve, as after 1977.

→ Current low nears Emergency-era low but with different dynamics.

## The big debate

**Does V-Dem’s 2025 Electoral Democracy Index score of 0.38 fairly represent India’s electoral health?**

**For**
- V-Dem 2024 shows freedom of expression worst-affected globally, worsening in 35 countries including India.
- India accounts for half the world’s autocratizing population, indicating measurable democratic backsliding.

**Against**
- ECI under Article 324 remains independent; EVMs cut invalid votes to <1% and curb booth capturing.
- India holds massive free polls; rank 106 still surpasses many electoral autocracies with larger deficits.

**The balanced take:** Indices like V-Dem flag erosion in associated freedoms, not outright electoral fraud; India’s constitutional machinery persists, but complacency risks deeper slide. Evidence-based reforms, not denial, are needed to reverse the steady post-2009 decline. The 2025 score of 0.38 is a warning light, not a bankruptcy certificate, for the world's largest democracy.

## Answer it in Mains

**Discuss the challenges to free and fair elections in India with reference to recent global democracy indices. (GS2)** *(GS2)*

How to attack it: Intro V-Dem 2025 score → constitutional, political, international axes → conclude with electoral reforms.

Quote this: V-Dem Democracy Report 2025 (kevinparker.com.au) and Article 324 of Constitution.

**How has the Election Commission of India maintained electoral integrity amid technological and political changes? (GS2)** *(GS2)*

How to attack it: Trace ECI evolution from RPA 1951 to EVMs → flag V-Dem concerns → suggest strengthening.

Quote this: Representation of the People Act 1951 and EVM data from grokipedia 2024.

**Is democracy in retreat globally? Examine with suitable examples. (Essay)** *(Essay)*

How to attack it: Open with V-Dem global dip → regional variations → India case → resilient institutions.

Quote this: V-Dem 2024 report showing 71% pop in autocracies (poder360.pdf).

## Prelims quick-fire

- **[Report/Index]** V-Dem EDI 2025: India scored 0.38, lowest since 1975 Emergency (0.39) per Legacy IAS 2026. — *EDI differs from Liberal Democracy Index.*
- **[Report/Index]** India ranked 106th among 179 countries in V-Dem EDI 2025; Denmark topped at 0.9 (Legacy IAS 2026). — *Rank not absolute but relative.*
- **[Report/Index]** V-Dem 2024: India with 18% world pop accounts for half of autocratizing countries (poder360.pdf). — *Autocratization means democratic backsliding.*
- **[Constitution]** Article 324 establishes ECI; CEC tenure 6 yrs or till 65, removed like SC judge (grokipedia 2024). — *Not under ordinary executive removal.*
- **[Body/Institution]** EVM full deployment by 2004 cut invalid votes from 2-3% to under 1% (grokipedia 2024). — *EVMs introduced as prototypes 1977.*
- **[Report/Index]** V-Dem Democracy Report 2025: 72% world pop in autocracies, highest since 1978 (kevinparker.com.au). — *Global figure distinct from India EDI.*
- **[Report/Index]** Freedom House 2024: 18th consecutive year of global freedom decline since 2005 (kevinparker.com.au). — *Different methodology from V-Dem.*

## What should happen

1. **Strengthen ECI’s administrative independence and resource autonomy** Insulates poll body from executive pressure amid declining index scores. *(Article 324 of the Constitution)*
2. **Enforce decriminalisation and regulate election freebies via ECI code** Reduces undue influence and improves clean election component. *(ADR India report on decriminalisation (adrindia.org))*
3. **Amend Representation of the People Act 1951 for stricter disclosure** Candidate asset and criminal record transparency boosts voter choice. *(Representation of the People Act 1951)*
4. **Institutionalise V-Dem style multi-dimensional electoral audits domestically** Provides early warning on freedoms erosion beyond mere turnout. *(V-Dem Democracy Report 2024 (poder360.pdf))*

## Jargon, demystified

- **Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem)** — Largest global dataset measuring 600 democracy attributes across 202 countries since 1789, compiled by 4,200 experts. *(Source of Electoral Democracy Index.)*
- **Electoral Democracy Index (EDI)** — V-Dem metric (0–1) capturing free/fair elections, expression, association per Dahl’s polyarchy concept. *(India scored 0.38 in 2025.)*
- **Polyarchy** — Robert Dahl’s 1971 concept of a regime with broad participation and opposition, foundational to EDI. *(Means 'rule by many' not full democracy.)*
- **Autocratization** — Gradual weakening of democratic institutions and freedoms, opposite of democratization, tracked by V-Dem. *(India half of such pop per V-Dem 2024.)*
- **Election Commission of India (ECI)** — Constitutional body under Article 324 overseeing elections; ensures free, fair polls via independent authority. *(CEC protected from easy removal.)*
- **Article 324** — Constitution clause vesting superintendence, direction and control of elections in the ECI, shielding it from executive. *(Part XV of Constitution.)*

## Revise in 30 seconds

- India EDI 2025: 0.38, lowest since 1975 Emergency (0.39).
- V-Dem ranks India 106/179; Denmark top at 0.9.
- Autocratization since 2009; India half such population.
- ECI under Article 324 ensures electoral autonomy.
- Clean elections deteriorating per V-Dem 2024 report.

## Study next

**Static links:** Constitutional framework of ECI (Article 324), Free and fair elections in GS2, Democracy in Essay

**Essay angle:** The paradox of the world's largest democracy scoring low on electoral index.

**Interview probe:** How would you defend India's electoral process to a foreign delegate citing V-Dem?

## Sources

- [The Hindu UPSC News Analysis For 01 September 2026 | Legacy IAS](https://www.legacyias.com/the-hindu-upsc-news-analysis-for-01-september-2026/)

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