The report, endorsed by over 30 civil society organizations, spans nearly 30 chapters under four major themes—democracy, development, governance, and the status of marginalized communities. It presents a sharp contrast between government claims and on-ground realities, particularly highlighting the persistent and often worsening conditions for India’s most vulnerable.
Foundations of Democracy Under Strain
Keynote speaker Prof. Aditya Mukherjee, noted historian and president of the Indian History Congress, cautioned against what he termed an erosion of the Republic’s foundational values: “India’s freedom struggle created a democratic framework anchored in liberty, secularism, and equality. Today, even the right to dissent is threatened. The ability to resist is under attack—but civil society continues to hold the line.”
Journalist Pamela Philipose recalled the optimism surrounding early versions of the report following citizen victories like the RTI Act and MGNREGS, but warned that in today's context of shrinking civic space, Promises and Reality is “doubly relevant.”
The report points to deeply troubling trends: a shrinking civic space, growing surveillance and censorship, corporate domination of the media, and a judiciary hampered by institutional constraints. It flags that the current Lok Sabha had the lowest legislative output since 1999, and that the Election Commission has not addressed concerns over 5 crore missing votes and an estimated 12 crore people excluded from voter rolls—disproportionately affecting Muslims and Dalits.
Development Gains Mask Inequality and Exclusion
The NDA-III government’s emphasis on infrastructure and economic growth is also critically examined. While the government touts ₹3 lakh crore in project launches and India's rise as the world’s top digital transaction economy, the report counters that wage growth remains stagnant, job creation weak (1.5% rise), and corporate profits have soared without benefiting workers.
Social sector allocations, particularly in health and education, are on the decline. Education spending has dropped to 2.5% of GDP (down from 3.3%), and health allocations remain stagnant at 0.3%—raising questions about the government’s commitment to human development.
The report also warns that development has come at the cost of environmental sustainability and social displacement. Dr. Juhi Priyanka Horo, referencing her research in Northeast India, explained how tribal knowledge systems are often mischaracterized and overwritten by destructive development models: “Imposed development moves in straight lines—tribal life, in contrast, moves in cycles that respect land, community, and ecology.”
Marginalised Communities Still Left Behind
The NDA’s numerous flagship welfare schemes—including PMAY, Mudra loans, and PM Janjati Unnat Gram Abhiyan—are cited by the government as evidence of inclusive governance. Yet, the report reveals structural flaws in implementation and policy design that exclude or fail to benefit the intended populations.
Progress under PMAY is hampered by reliance on outdated census data, risking wrongful evictions. Many street vendors continue to face harassment despite support schemes. Gender allocations have risen by 37%, but largely through the inclusion of generic schemes—not dedicated investments in women’s care infrastructure. Manual scavenging deaths—339 in the last year—point to caste-linked neglect and continued denial of dignity and basic safety.
Manjula Pradeep of the Wayve Foundation warned against viewing these deaths as mere numbers: “Behind every death is a family further impoverished and trapped. These are not isolated incidents but systemic failures rooted in caste and state apathy.”
The report also notes the rise of religious intolerance, with 840 attacks on Christians in 2024 and continued targeting of Muslims through property demolitions, voter suppression, and bulldozer actions—even after a 2024 Supreme Court verdict against such measures.
Dismantling Accountability Mechanisms
The report paints a grim picture of accountability in governance. Transparency mechanisms are eroding—over 4 lakh RTI applications remain pending, key transparency laws have been diluted, and the Whistle Blowers Protection Act has not been operationalized. Meanwhile, police budgets are rising while legal aid and judicial infrastructure remain underfunded, deepening systemic inequality in access to justice.
Prof. Tanweer Fazal questioned the government's narrative of inclusive development: “‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ sounds inclusive, but ignores structural inequalities—especially those based on caste and religion—by refusing to adopt targeted development frameworks.”
Tehmina Arora, of ADF International, emphasized the need to reclaim fraternity as a constitutional value: “Liberty and equality mean little without fraternity. Rising attacks on minorities and discriminatory denials of basic rights are direct assaults on this spirit.”
Moderated by WNTA Steering Group member Annie Namala, the panel called for renewed vigilance and activism to uphold India’s democratic and constitutional ideals. The report, while sharply critical, also affirms the continued relevance and strength of civil society movements, whose voices remain vital in shaping a just and equitable future.
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