International ReportsImportant2025-03-06

V-Dem Institute Publishes Democracy Report 2025

Q: 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.

A) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct as the V-Dem Institute is located at the University of Gothenburg. Statement 2 is incorrect because the 2025 report continued to classify India as an electoral autocracy, a status it has held in V-Dem indices since 2017.

In News

What Happened

The V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg published the 10th edition of its annual Democracy Report on March 6, 2025. The report ranked India 100th out of 179 countries on the Liberal Democracy Index and continued its classification as an electoral autocracy. It highlighted a global decline in democratic norms, particularly emphasizing threats to freedom of expression and civil society.

Why It Matters

The report's continuous classification of India as an 'electoral autocracy' highlights sustained international scrutiny of India's democratic institutions. It brings focus to domestic debates regarding press freedom, civil liberties, and the independence of bodies like the Election Commission of India.

Background

History & Context

The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, based in Sweden, produces one of the most comprehensive datasets assessing global democracy. India was first downgraded from an 'electoral democracy' to an 'electoral autocracy' by V-Dem in its 2021 report, a status retrospectively applied from 2017 onwards. This classification relies heavily on specific indicators such as freedom of expression, alternative sources of information, and freedom of association.

What Changed

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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.
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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.
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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

This event connects to Class 11 Political Science Chapter 1 - Constitution: Why and How? by illustrating how fundamental rights like Freedom of Speech and Expression (Article 19) are essential for a functioning democracy. It demonstrates how international bodies assess constitutional performance by measuring the actual enjoyment of these rights versus their theoretical guarantees.

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.

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