Question

What are the challenges of democracy in current Indian politics ? Discuss.

Hint:

For questions on challenges to Indian democracy, remember the "4 Cs": Corruption, Criminalization, Communalism, and Casteism. Also, consider issues like money power and dynastic politics.

Answer 1

While India is the world's largest democracy, it faces several persistent challenges that test its democratic fabric. Some of the key challenges in current Indian politics include:
\begin{enumerate} \item Corruption and Criminalization of Politics: The presence of corruption in public life erodes trust in democratic institutions. Furthermore, the increasing number of elected representatives with criminal records poses a serious threat to the integrity of the political system. \item Role of Money and Muscle Power: The high cost of fighting elections often leads to a reliance on wealthy candidates or illicit funding, creating an uneven playing field. The use of muscle power to intimidate voters and rivals undermines the principle of free and fair elections. \item Communalism and Casteism: The use of religious and caste identities for political mobilization is a major challenge. It divides society, leads to conflict, and diverts attention from genuine issues of development and governance. \item Dynastic Politics: The tendency of political parties to be dominated by a single family or dynasty is a challenge to internal party democracy. It limits opportunities for deserving leaders from non-political backgrounds to rise. \item Challenge of Deepening Democracy: While India has a successful record of holding elections, the challenge is to deepen democracy by strengthening local self-government institutions (Panchayats and Municipalities) and ensuring that the benefits of democracy reach the most marginalized sections of society. \item Erosion of Democratic Institutions: Concerns are often raised about the weakening of autonomous institutions like the judiciary, the Election Commission, and the media, which are crucial for maintaining checks and balances in a democracy. \end{enumerate}