IDEA flags decline in judicial independence, free parties in India

New Delhi: Even as India holds the Chairship of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the first time- represented by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, its latest report- though it has omitted mention of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)- has recorded 'recent declines' in 'Judicial Independence and Free Political Parties' in India, pointing to 'repeated federal investigations into opposition leaders ahead of the 2024 election'.

India's Election Commission- represented by the CEC- took over the Chairship in December 2025 and has hosted several high-level interactions with International IDEA functionaries over the last year. India is also one of its founding members- since 1995- and describes it as a major intergovernmental organisation dedicated to strengthening democracy worldwide', as per the website of ECI's IIIDEM institute.

IDEA's 'Global State of Democracy (GSoD) 2026:Democracy in an Age ofConflict', published on September 15, acknowledges that India remains the region's largest and most influential democracy and has advanced in two measures (Basic Welfare and Freedom of Movement).


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However, the report continues to place India among 'mid-range-performing countries' that suffered declines- alongside, Argentina, Belgium, India, Nigeria, Taiwan, and the Trump era USA.

"At the same time, India also saw recent declines in Judicial Independence and Free Political Parties, the latter partly due to repeated federal investigations into opposition leaders ahead of the 2024 election", the report adds.

The GSoD 2026 points to declines in 'judicial independence' in Indi, referring to the 'contentious parliamentary impeachment proceedings' against a high court judge in the state of Tamil Nadu which prompted questions about 'undue influence on the judiciary' by the Opposition.

That despite these developments, public opposition and debate are alive, are 'encouraging signs of democratic vitality in India', the report says.

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It also acknowledges that the 'Credible Elections' factor remained "broadly stable between 2024 and 2025 and remains well above the regional average for Asia and the Pacific".

It adds that despite preelection concerns, independent observers assessed the 2024 election- "as credible and well administered-a perception supported by the fact that all major political actors readily accepted the outcome".

"Nonetheless, it has experienced a gradual decline over several years, a process that predates the 2024 election", the report cautions observing that India's vast and diverse federal structure also means that national-level developments do not always capture the health of the country's democratic institutions and could vary considerably across Indian states.

Incidentally, former CEC Sunil Arora- then India's representative to the IDEA Advisory Board- had objected to the methodology followed in the GSoD 2023 report.