V-Dem Institute Publishes Democracy Report 2025
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
- ▶
BEFORE: In earlier decades, India was consistently classified by international indices as a robust electoral democracy with strong institutional checks. NOW: The 2025 report continues to classify India as an electoral autocracy, ranking it 100th on the Liberal Democracy Index.
- ▶
BEFORE: Global indices generally showed a trend of expanding democratic freedoms globally during the post-Cold War era. NOW: The report highlights a continuing global trend of democratic backsliding, with autocratization affecting numerous countries.
- ▶
BEFORE: Civil society operations and freedom of speech faced fewer systemic regulatory hurdles across many developing democracies. NOW: The report identifies targeted crackdowns on freedom of expression and civil society organizations as a primary mechanism of autocratization worldwide.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the V-Dem Democracy Report? 1. The V-Dem Institute is based at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. 2. The 2025 report reclassified India from an electoral autocracy to an electoral democracy.