In the fervent democracy that India is, the 2024 elections saw millions of citizens exercise their vote to elect a government for themselves for another five years. This event underlines the key democratic principle of people’s participation in forming a government of their choice. However, does voting mark the end of democratic engagement for the average Indian until the next election period? Certainly not. This is not the case for a significant portion of Indian citizens as they appear to invite a more robust notion of citizenship that goes beyond voting. Prominent examples can be cited where Indians have proactively participated in steering the direction of governance.
During the Chipko movement in the 1970s, villagers from Uttarakhand hugged trees to prevent deforestation. This ultimately led to a prohibition on deforestation and highlighted the protection of forests. A more recent example is the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011, in which millions of Indians, spread across the country, gathered and rallied for a Jan Lokpal Bill to have an independent institutional framework against corruption. These movements demonstrate the significant impact of civic engagement on decision-making and the potential for driving positive change.
The Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) post-poll survey provides interesting insights into the subject of citizen participation. The most crucial aspect of democracy, according to 43% of respondents, is free and fair elections. Equal rights for everyone was identified as the essential characteristic of democracy by 35% of respondents. Although chosen by fewer respondents, two in ten Indians consider the freedom to criticise those in power as a notable aspect of democracy.
Instead of being passive recipients of government decisions, a majority of Indians believed that in a democracy, people should have the right to oppose decisions taken by their leaders. This suggests that the government needs to build greater consensus about its actions, or else it will lead to greater pushback. Similarly, 67% of respondents think that citizens should have the right to influence what leaders do, reflecting a strong desire for active engagement and accountability in governance.
Graph 4 shows a notable generational shift in the views on the right to influence leaders and the importance of active citizenship. A majority of Indians feel that citizens should have the right to influence leaders to take specific actions. The highest support of 71% stems from the youngest age group, of people up to 25 years of age, demonstrating their significant focus on active participation. It progressively decreases with age, reaching the lowest of 63% for people 56 years of age and beyond. This shows that younger generations are more likely than older generations to actively engage with civic issues. The latter is more sceptical about the impact of citizens on leadership.
Similarly, the data on caste groups reinforces this view, showing that a majority of individuals across all castes value the ability to bring about change in the government through free and fair elections, which is a key aspect of active citizenship. Among historically marginalised groups, like the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, a significant emphasis is placed on electoral participation, with 38% and 46% respectively favouring the latter.
Graph 6 shows a clear positive correlation between educational qualifications and support for the right to oppose a leader’s decision. The percentage of Indians who support this increases with an increase in educational levels, ranging from 59% among non-literate individuals to 74% among those with college and above education. Additionally, resistance to these declines with higher education, falling from 23% at the primary level to 18% at the college level. This collective prioritisation of electoral democracy and civic rights across diverse demographics highlights that active citizenship is a core value for most Indians, transcending age, caste and educational distinctions.
The survey demonstrates the importance of accountability in leadership and its fundamental principle stemming from the will of the common people. It ensures that those in power make decisions that favour the common public good while maintaining integrity in line with morality.
The strength and endurance of a democratic system depend on the connection between engaged citizens and accountable leaders. The data findings show that most people support participatory governance and greater transparency to enhance ethical decision-making. By taking part in democratic processes and ensuring their leaders are responsible, citizens support democratic principles. Furthermore, this ensures that governance remains vigilant and transparent. Democracies can prosper and uphold liberty for everyone by embracing this vibrant link.
Deepa Thiyagarajan is a researcher at CSDS.
