Strongman Watch
Narendra Modi
Elected leader flagged by V-Dem and Freedom House for democratic decline and crackdowns on minority rights.
Narendra Modi has served as India's prime minister since 2014, leading the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party to three consecutive election victories in the world's largest democracy. His government's 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status, and the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act widely seen as discriminating against Muslims, drew sustained domestic protest and international criticism.
The V-Dem Institute's 2024 report pointed to substantial democratic decline under Modi's leadership, citing an enduring crackdown on minority rights and civil society, while Freedom House has separately flagged increasing legal pressure on critical journalists and news outlets. Modi's supporters counter that India continues to hold competitive, high-turnout elections and point to its economic growth record as evidence the country's democratic institutions remain functionally intact.