Archive · 1 Feb 2026
India's Development and Democracy Realizations
Aakar Patel, a writer, talks about how India's hopes of becoming a great power like China have faded.
He says that India is no longer growing as fast as expected and most people are still poor.
He also talks about how India's democracy is weakening.
The government used to get upset when reports said India was not fully democratic, but now it doesn't care.
Patel says that both the economic and democratic failures have been accepted as reality in India.
India's economic growth ambitions have fallen short, with per capita GDP being one fourth of the world's average.
The country's democracy is eroding, with poor scores on civil liberties and freedom of expression.
The government initially responded to criticism but has since accepted the reality of these failures.
Reports from think-tanks and media outlets highlight India's democratic backsliding.
The government's acceptance of criticism indicates an internalization of these failures.
- Who
- Aakar Patel, a columnist and writer
- What
- Realization of India's failed development ambitions and erosion of democracy
- When
- Last decade or so
- Where
- India
- Why
- Economic and democratic failures
- Author
- Aakar Patel
- Primary Category
- GOVERNMENT
- Secondary Category
- Democracy
- Tertiary Category
- Erosion
- Quaternary Category
- Civil Liberties
- Per Capita GDP
- One fourth of the world's average
- Government Response
- Acceptance of criticism