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India

Monthly Updates

January 2023

India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry invoked emergency powers on 21 January under Rule 16 of the Information Technology Rules 2021 to force social media companies to remove clips of a BBC documentary that examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 riots in Gujarat state. University authorities reportedly attempted to prevent public screenings of the documentary at several universities, by banning gatherings, electrical outages and in some instances detaining students. Activists and oppositions argue the reaction to the documentary, which the BBC had not planned to air in India, is part of a trend of increased censorship in the country.

December 2022

The independent news channel New Delhi Television, or NDTV, has been bought by Gautam Adani, a billionaire, sparking media concentration concerns. Analysts have expressed concern that the takeover will compromise NDTV's editorial independence, which stands in sharp contrast to other mainstream news channels that allegedly have strong ties to the government. A similar move was observed in 2014 with another billionaire acquiring Network18, one of India's largest media companies. Experts indicate that the move marks a worrying blow for independent media in India.

October 2022

India's Supreme Court announced on 13 October a split decision on allowing hijabs to be worn in classrooms and has referred the case to the Chief Justice. The verdict extends a 10-month-long polarizing debate, which critics allege is the latest case of authorities trying to marginalize Muslims under the state's Hindu extremist policies. Muslim women have protested that the ban goes against their freedom of expression and religion and access to education. Women protesting the ban have faced violence from counter-protesting young men wearing saffron shawls and waving orange flags, emblematic of Hindu nationalist groups. 

September 2022

India's Supreme Court ruled on 29 September that all women, regardless of marital status, may obtain an abortion up to 24 weeks into their pregnancies. The law previously only allowed married persons to terminate pregnancies up until 24 weeks, with single women limited to 20 weeks. Reproductive rights activists have hailed the move as a positive step toward expanding women's right to safe and legal abortions in a non-discriminatory way. 

Explore past monthly updates

GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
1 393 409 030
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (since 2014)
Head of government party
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
First Past the Post
Women in lower or single chamber
14.9%
Women in upper chamber
12.3%
Last legislative election
2019
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
3.73
Head of state
President Droupadi Murmu
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly + regional/local representatives)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
04/05/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
60.80%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Signatory
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
Signatory
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
No Action
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Early Warning System BETA

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Low risk of democratic breakdown Low risk of democratic breakdown (BETA)
Currently experiencing democratic backsliding Currently experiencing democratic backsliding (BETA)

Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
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