Reports and Indices

V-Dem Report on India

September 21 , 2026 15 hrs 0 min 6 0

The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute’s 2026 report says India’s Electoral Democracy Index has reached its lowest level since 1975.
V-Dem measures democracy through indicators covering elections, institutions, rights and freedoms.
India’s score has gradually declined since 2009, with declines in judicial accountability, corruption control, Election Management Body (EMB) autonomy and impartial public administration.
The report also records declines in academic freedom, cultural expression and conditions for journalists.
The findings came amid concerns raised by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN CERD) over voter exclusion during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.