The July 2022 issue of Policy Watch focuses on the theme Constitutional Values and Democratic Institutions, anchored in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution—Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic—each explored through a dedicated article.
The article on Sovereignty by Anshuman Behera highlights internal and external threats, including extremism and communal violence, and critiques the state’s need to improve public perception management and expedite peace talks in conflict regions.
The Socialist perspective is examined through Prof. Shruti Rajagopalan’s critique of how socialism undermined constitutional principles like federalism and judicial independence, while TN Ninan offers a contrasting view, likening India’s shift to a billionaire-driven state to pre-socialist Britain.
Prof. Cécile Laborde’s Secular argument, from her Moffett lecture, proposes “minimal secularism” as a lens to evaluate how effectively the state ensures public justification, inclusion, and liberty, rather than just separation of religion and state.
Sujit Choudhry’s article on Democracy reflects on Madhav Khosla’s India’s Founding Moment, emphasizing how quasi-federalism and regional political competition evolved unexpectedly, ultimately strengthening India’s democratic resilience.
On Republic, Rohit Chopra warns against India’s drift toward authoritarianism disguised as pluralism. A second piece by Justice Madan Lokur stresses the erosion of Liberty, urging judges to uphold citizens’ rights and resist becoming passive enablers of arbitrary arrests.
Together, these articles offer a multi-faceted critique and reflection on how far India has stayed true to its constitutional ideals, while also warning of current challenges to their realization.
Policy Watch: Constitutional Values and Democratic Institutions – July 2022
Send download link to:
