In 2021, I wrote a book called Price of the Modi Years. In one of its chapters, I compared India’s rankings on various global indices that I had been tracking over the years to see whether they had improved, stayed the same or deteriorated since 2014. I keep going back to these periodically to see whether India has risen, fallen or stayed the same. Today’s column looks at some of the more important ones as 2024 draws to a close.

The United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index monitors life expectancy at birth, education and national income. Our 2014 rank was 130. Today, it is today 134: a fall of four places.

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index monitors civil liberties, pluralism, political culture and participation and electoral process in nations. Our 2014 rank was 27, our latest is 47: a fall of 20 places. India is classified as a ‘flawed democracy’.

The CIVICUS Monitor’s National Civic Space Ratings assesses freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression. In 2017, it rated India as a place where freedoms were ‘Obstructed’. India’s current rating has fallen to ‘Repressed’ and the reason is that ‘the deterioration of India’s civic space is alarming.’

The Lowy Institute Asia Power Index monitors national power and influence based on economy, diplomacy, military capacity, resilience, trade, future trends, cultural influence. Foreign minister........

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