India’s democracy delivers: Jaishankar highlights nutrition support at Munich Security Conference

India’s democracy is thriving, not in trouble, says Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed strong optimism about India’s democracy, emphasizing that it has delivered tangible results for its people. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2025 on the panel ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience‘, Jaishankar shared the stage with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Jaishankar disagreed with the notion that democracy is in decline globally, instead highlighting India’s electoral process. He referred to the 2024 parliamentary elections and recent state elections, noting that India consistently witnesses high voter turnout, with nearly 700 million people participating in national elections out of a 900-million-strong electorate.

“Nobody disputes the result after it’s announced,” Jaishankar stated, adding that democracy in India is not only intact but growing stronger, with 20% more voter participation than in previous decades.

India’s democracy provides for its people

Addressing concerns about the functionality of democracy, Jaishankar countered the argument that democracy does not put food on the table, stating that in India, it does.

“Because we are a democratic society, we provide nutrition support to 800 million people,” he explained, highlighting India’s extensive welfare programs.

He cautioned against generalizing democracy’s challenges worldwide, pointing out that while some parts of the world may struggle, democracy is thriving elsewhere.

“Different parts of the world are going through different conversations. Please do not assume that democracy being in trouble is a universal phenomenon—it is not,” he stated.

VIDEO | Here’s what External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) said answering a question about whether democracy is in trouble worldwide.

“The mark on my index finger is a mark of a person who just voted. We just had an election in my state. Last year, we had a… pic.twitter.com/OCXHfJkMJ4

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 15, 2025

India as a model for the Global South

Jaishankar emphasized that India’s democratic experience is more relatable to many Global South nations than traditional Western models.

• India chose democracy after independence because of its consultative and pluralistic societal structure.
• Historically, the West has treated democracy as a Western characteristic, often supporting non-democratic forces in the Global South.
• Many nations now see India’s democratic success as a more relevant model for their own societies.

He urged Western nations to embrace successful democratic models outside the West, stating:
“If the West wants democracy to prevail globally, it must recognize and learn from successful models outside its own borders.”

Foreign interference and double standards

Jaishankar also highlighted inconsistencies in Western foreign policy, pointing out that while Western nations uphold democratic values at home, their approach to non-democratic regimes abroad is often contradictory.

“There are recent cases where everything that Western nations say they value at home, they fail to practice abroad,” he noted, without naming specific instances.

He asserted that the Global South will assess democratic success based on real outcomes, and many nations will find India’s experience more applicable to their realities.

Munich Security Conference 2025

The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC 2025) is taking place in Munich, Germany, from February 14-16. The event provides a high-level platform for discussions on global security and foreign policy challenges.

Jaishankar’s participation in the panel reinforced India’s confidence in its democratic model and its growing influence in shaping global governance conversations.

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