Since 2014, the Modi-led BJP government has maintained its position at the Centre. It’s been a decade of governance and a journey to include India among the top five economies in the world.
As per the Investigative Journalism Reportika (Ij-Reportika)’s ‘A Critical Survey of the Biggest 5 Economies’, India was ahead of the other four- US, Germany, Japan, and China- when questioned about the State of democracy and transparency and accountability of the country’s government. Following are the insights from the survey.
State of democracy
The survey results indicate a strong satisfaction rate of 68% concerning the state of democracy in the nation. This contentment is supported by crucial democratic elements, such as a three-tier system and the efficient counting of votes, even at the grassroots level of government.
The existence of a multi-tiered system ensures representation and governance across various administrative levels, promoting inclusivity.
Additionally, the practice of counting votes at the lowest government levels underscores the commitment to decentralized decision-making and participatory democracy.
However, it’s crucial to note that some respondents raised concerns about the influence of financial power in the democratic process.
Transparency and accountability
The survey reveals a significant approval rate, with 64.1% of respondents expressing satisfaction with the transparency and accountability of their government. This positive sentiment is mainly attributed to the implementation of the Right to Information Act, granting citizens timely access to information about government activities.
The presence of a functional media landscape, allowing individuals to openly criticize or praise the government on social and legacy media platforms, contributes to this favourable perception.
Moreover, respondents supporting the government’s transparency pointed out the strengthening of institutions like the Enforcement Directorate as a factor influencing their agreement.
In contrast, those who disagreed expressed concerns about the prolonged pendency of cases and political influence within the judicial system.
Addressing economic challenges
The survey indicates a notable level of satisfaction, with 52.92% of respondents expressing contentment with their government’s overall performance in addressing economic challenges.
Positive sentiments are associated with key initiatives, including a robust infrastructure push, the widespread adoption and convenience of digital payments, particularly through UPI (Unified Payments Interface), and the successful implementation of the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity.
The endorsement of the startup culture stood out as a significant positive aspect for respondents satisfied with the government’s performance in this domain. Conversely, those expressing dissatisfaction highlighted specific challenges, such as adverse effects on their businesses due to new tax regimes.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the perceived negative impacts of excessive digitization and the growing influence of large corporations in the economic domain. These divergent viewpoints underscore the multifaceted nature of public opinions on the government’s economic performance.
Addressing social challenges
The survey on government performance in addressing social challenges unveils a varied response. While 44.93% express satisfaction, emphasizing enhanced unity across various social structures such as caste, aspects like women’s safety, internal security, education, and health infrastructure receive positive feedback.
Conversely, 39.04% express dissatisfaction, citing concerns about a growing Hindu-Muslim divide and pointing to issues like pollution, population, crimes, and gender gap.
This divergence underscores the intricate nature of social challenges and the varied perceptions of the government’s effectiveness in addressing them.
Foreign policy decisions
The survey highlights a high level of satisfaction with the country’s foreign policy decisions, with 65.36% expressing contentment. Respondents specifically commend the successful evacuation of Indians from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, positive relations with Israel, maintaining diplomatic ties with Palestine, and fostering good relationships with both the USA and Russia.
India’s significant role during evacuations from conflict zones, unprecedented foreign direct investment, and major multinational corporations like Apple establishing a presence in the country contribute to the overall positive perception of India’s foreign policy.
The respondents, expressing 70.05% agreement, believe that their government effectively represents the country’s interests on the global stage.
Notably, decisions such as purchasing Russian oil during sanctions, not joining the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), and banning multiple Chinese applications due to security and privacy concerns are pivotal factors in shaping this positive perception.
