Upholding democracy in the Indian Republic

Overall, the nation has done a phenomenal job as the world’s largest democracy.

Reflect ing on the achievements of the Indian Republic on the 75th Republic Day, it can safely be declared that the nation’s biggest achievement is the deepening and flowering of our democracy. When the Indian Constitution came into effect in 1950, the world was dealing with the consequences of World War II and colonialism. India was impoverished and bore the deep scars of exploitation. Not many observers expected democracy to last in the nation, but here we are 75 years later, the world’s largest, most vibrant democracy.

Socio-economic development and political power have reached all sections of the society, including the bottom 40%. Economic liberalization in 1991 has accelerated economic growth, from Rs 5.32 lakh-crore in FY91 to Rs 296.57 lakhcrore in FY24—a 33-year run at 13% CAGR! A feat unparalleled in India’s history. Significant increase in infrastructure spending, accelerated savings and investments in the financial sector, increase in manufacturing and production, and population-scale technology-based inclusion initiatives are driving growth this decade. India is now the fifth-largest economy in the world, by nominal GDP, and is projected to soon be the third largest in a few years.