Who publishes it
The Democracy Index is published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the Economist Group.
What it measures
It scores countries (0–10) across five categories: electoral process & pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties. Based on the score, countries are classified as Full Democracy, Flawed Democracy, Hybrid Regime or Authoritarian Regime.
India and significance
India is generally classified as a “flawed democracy”; the government has at times questioned such perception-based rankings. The index sparks debate on democratic backsliding, civil liberties and institutional health globally.
UPSC angle
Know Democracy Index = EIU; 5 categories (electoral process, govt functioning, participation, political culture, civil liberties); 4 regime types (Full/Flawed/Hybrid/Authoritarian); India = flawed democracy.
Frequently asked questions
Who publishes the Democracy Index?
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
What are the categories of the Democracy Index?
Electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
What are the regime types?
Full Democracy, Flawed Democracy, Hybrid Regime and Authoritarian Regime.
How is India classified?
India is generally classified as a "flawed democracy".