“Of the people, by the people and for the people.” An important quote stated by Abraham Lincoln, describes that a democracy is a structure of a people’s government that works for and with the people. And India is one of the most accurate representations of a democratic government.
India is regarded as the largest democracy in the world. This statement can be supported through various factors, such as;
- Population size
India due to its huge size and huge population of 1.4 billion people, currently possesses about the largest number of eligible voters in the world. It’s a crucial factor because it affects and amplifies the electoral process of a country. With a population that large it is evident that the number of people who can vote are the largest in the world.
- Universal adult suffrage
With universal suffrage, everyone who is 18 years old or older has a right to vote in the elections no matter their caste, race or gender. This inclusiveness ensures that a vast majority of the population can participate in elections without facing any form of discrimination.
- Regular elections
The electoral commission of India conducts the elections at a regular level. These elections are held at 3 levels- the national,state and the local level. These elections ensure that the nation’s democratic governance remains intact.
For example: the Lok Sabha elections are conducted every five years so that the citizens of the country can elect their representatives to power and can change them after a period of five years if they are dissatisfied with their services.
- Scale of elections
Elections are a crucial process of ensuring democracy and organising elections for such a large population involves a lot of challenges, especially in terms of logistics management,etc. India has set up over 1 million polling stations for a population of 1.4 billion to manage their voting process and to ensure fair and efficient counting of votes. To organise the elections at such a large scale, it involves a lot of planning, technology and manpower to ensure that the entire election process works out smoothly and efficiently without the existence of any unfair means. The broad size of the population thus reflects and amplifies the inclusive nature of democracy. It reflects the democratic principle of universal adult suffrage that no one can be denied their rights to vote and participate in elections.
- Federal structure
One of the key factors of India being the largest democracy in the world has a lot to do because of its federal structure.the federal system of india divides the power between the central government and the individual states. This structural pyramid of power allows diverse regions to have their own governments and legislatures so that the power never remains on one ruling individual or party alone. With this form of distribution of power, every region can have their own representative catering to their local needs, as well as the national power structure that looks after the national and foreign affairs in the interest of the overall well being of the country.
- Multiparty system
India has a multi party system that allows numerous regional and national political parties to contest and compete in the elections. This system allows a wide range of representations, viewpoints and ideas that stands as a reflection of the country’s diversity.the multi party system allows that everyone puts forth a constructive criticism against the ruling party government and that no one shall enjoy the supreme power and authority alone. A multi party system criticises and challenges when the government fails to meet the interest of its citizens. The press plays an essential role in holding the government accountable, informing the citizens about each and every political developments and most importantly,provides a platform for public debate wherein normal citizens can voice their concerns and opinions when the government passes any law for their own material gain and not for the benefit of the country.
- Democratic institutions
A democratic government thus, stands on the pillars of the democratic institutions of a country. Such as; the independent judiciary, and the free press which holds the most importance and acts as the upholder of the principles a country needs to abide by while ensuring a democratic regime and also helps in pointing out accountability when the government needs to uphold it.
- Representations
Managing such a diverse and complex population of India requires a very complex system of representation. This can only be done through the employment and involvement of numerous national and regional parties. Representations are very crucial because, a national party might not know about the problems and issues of a rural area of a different state, therefore their interests and voices would never be heard and thus, would always remain as unaddressed. Representation at every part and region of the country ensures that different voices and interests are represented and thus, keeps the democratic process intact.
- Institutions upholding democracy
India’s democracy is supported by strong institutions that make sure that the law is functioning properly and is able to protect the freedom of the individuals residing in the country. The constitution of India in the 1950s outlined the structure of the government that ensured the rights of the citizens and the principles that guides the functioning of the nation.
The most important institution is the supreme court of india, that is the judiciary.
The supreme court of india plays the most crucial role in upholding the constitution. It has the power to review laws, executive actions and ensures that every proceedings conforms to the constitutional principles. This ensures a system of checks and balances where no branch of government becomes too powerful.
The judiciary is also responsible for safeguarding the fundamental rights of its citizens such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to equality that maintains that the country upheld its democratic principles and the citizens are able to exercise their democratic rights.
Conclusion
India’s Status as the largest democracy in the world is not just the function of its population size but also its democratic depth. With the employment of the universal suffrage, federal structure and the establishments of the democratic institutions, india has allowed itself to thrive as the largest democracy.