India’s Authoritarian Drift: When the World’s Largest Democracy Stops Playing by Democratic Rules

By Citizen of Europe August 17

India is hailed as the world’s largest democracy. But under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its democratic framework is steadily eroding. Courts are under pressure, the press is under attack, and minorities are pushed to the margins. The ballot box still exists, but the democratic substance around it is being hollowed out [Freedom House 2024].

Table of Contents

Courts, Press, and Power

Judicial independence is increasingly fragile, with executive influence over appointments and rulings in politically sensitive cases [Freedom House]. Journalists face tax raids, sedition or anti-terror charges, and prolonged detentions [HRW 2024]. Reporters Without Borders ranked India 159th of 180 in 2024 — among its lowest placements on record [RSF 2024].

Silencing Dissent

Mass protests — from farmers to students — are met with surveillance, assembly bans, and arrests [Freedom House]. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), drafted for counterterrorism, is routinely deployed against peaceful critics [HRW]. Civil society groups report being constrained by foreign-funding restrictions and administrative harassment under the FCRA [Freedom House].

Shrinking Space for Minorities

Hindu nationalist ideology has moved from rhetoric to policy. The Citizenship Amendment Act offers a fast track to citizenship for non-Muslim migrants; Muslims face exclusion in law and practice [CRS]. Communal violence and mob lynchings see inconsistent enforcement, with perpetrators often enjoying impunity [HRW]. With more than 200 million Muslims, India’s minorities face systemic marginalization [Pew].

Why the World Looks Away

Western governments court India as a strategic counterweight to China. Trade, technology, and defense ties often eclipse concerns about rule of law and rights [Reuters]. This geopolitical calculation gives Delhi space to tighten its grip at home with limited international pushback.

A Warning Beyond India

India is not an outlier but a warning. If the world’s largest democracy can drift toward authoritarianism while preserving elections, any democracy can. What happens when the democratic form remains, but the substance disappears?