Democracy thrives when state action uplifts the last person through rights, reservation and welfare
On 16th May 1952, while addressing the first popularly elected Parliament, the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, underscored the historic significance of the moment. He also reminded the members that this marked only the completion of one stage of India’s journey and in the second phase, there will be “no resting place for a nation or a people on their onward march.”
It was a subtle yet profound reminder that while political independence and constitutional sovereignty had been achieved, the work of the Republic was far from complete. As Dr Prasad put it, the true task before India was “to bring a measure of happiness to our people and a lessening of the burdens they suffer from”—a charge that defined the moral purpose of the new Republic.
By placing this moral obligation at the heart of democratic governance, Dr Prasad reshaped the relationship between the State and its people. India would no longer be a nation of subjects, but a republic of citizens—equal in political voice, bound by the Constitution, and united as fellow travellers in a shared national journey.
The Indian Republic, therefore, was not born merely of freedom, but of a conscious constitutional choice that established democracy in the truest sense.
Democracy is often summed up as the government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”—a phrase that captures its essential philosophy.
The principle of “of the people” was realised with the adoption of the Constitution, which vested sovereignty in citizens and subjected State power to constitutional limits. The principle of “by the people” found expression in the first General Elections of 1952, when universal adult franchise entrusted every adult Indian, regardless of background, with an equal political voice.
However, the third strand, “for the people,” entails an ongoing obligation on the part of the State to provide agency and well-being to citizens. Every state action must be directed towards the goal of socio-economic justice and the uplift of marginalised and underprivileged sections. The Indian Constitution also enjoins the state to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people.
The success of a democratic republic lies in the extent to which governance serves the people. Democratic legitimacy is sustained not by procedures alone, but by performance—by the State’s ability to respond to social needs, reduce inequalities, and uphold human dignity. The strength of a republic is measured by how it treats its weakest citizens.
Indian political thought has consistently emphasised a human-centric understanding of democracy. In ancient India, the concept of “Yoga-Kshema” advocated well-being and protection of the individual. Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Sarvodaya envisioned the upliftment of all, particularly the last person. Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Ekatma Manavvad articulated a holistic, human-centred approach to development.
In contemporary governance, the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” echoes an enduring ideological commitment to inclusive, people-centric governance. This commitment, in which the State actively works “for the people” by prioritising the uplift of the weakest and most vulnerable, has yielded remarkable results over the last 12 years under the leadership of PM Modi. The government has translated ideological vision into tangible action, delivering inclusive growth that reaches every corner and section of society.
Under Part 4 of the Constitution, the state is duty-bound to make provision for just and humane conditions of work. By consolidating twenty-nine labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes, an efficient framework has been created to promote workers’ rights and welfare in accordance with the constitutional directive.
In the last decade, socio-economic justice has been given increased priority to promote inclusive development “for the people”. According to the World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, over the past decade, India has lifted 171 million people out of extreme poverty. Economically Weaker Sections have been provided reservations in educational institutions and employment to further the goal of affirmative action.
Progressive legislation, such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, has been enacted to uphold dignity and equality and to provide substantive justice for historically disadvantaged groups.
One of the most powerful illustrations of this people-centric governance is the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). The Mission operationalised the democratic ideal of “for the people” at the grassroots level. Far more than a sanitation initiative, it became a nationwide movement centred on human dignity, public health, women’s safety, and social inclusion. By addressing an issue long neglected despite its profound impact on everyday life, the Swachh Bharat Mission has emerged as the world’s largest and most successful people-led and people-driven public movement of this century.
Welfare of the deprived, less-abled, aged, and those facing personal tragedy/misfortune is necessary to ensure equality of opportunity and status. The provision of free food to more than 80 crore persons under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is an example of this.
For millions of Indian families, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana has meant more than just a policy-it has meant dignity and hope in their darkest hours. With 53% of beneficiaries being women and over 72% from rural India, the scheme has expanded access to life insurance nationwide.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clarion call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it was not merely an economic slogan but an extension of self-reliance at the individual level. Through initiatives such as the Mudra Yojana and the Skill India Mission, the emphasis was on empowering citizens to become self-reliant, entrepreneurial, and confident in their own abilities. Self-reliance lies at the core of individual autonomy, and these interventions gave it a decisive boost.
Similarly, Ayushman Bharat sought to expand freedom by ensuring access to dignified and affordable healthcare, while the Jan Dhan Yojana brought millions of the poor into the formal banking system. By freeing them from dependence on unscrupulous moneylenders, it restored financial security and personal dignity to those who had long been excluded from institutional support.
This same democratic imperative of governance “for the people” finds powerful expression in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
This reform reinforces “of the people” by widening the social base from which sovereignty is exercised. It enriches “by the people” by making representative institutions more reflective of society’s diversity. Most importantly, it advances the principle of “for the people” by ensuring that governance outcomes are shaped by perspectives rooted in lived experiences.
India’s democratic journey, therefore, is not a static constitutional achievement but a continuous national project. While the Constitution and elections establish the framework of democracy, the Republic is sustained through responsive governance, ethical leadership, and constant engagement with the people’s aspirations. Democracy, in its truest sense, endures when the State remains unwaveringly committed to governing “for the people”.
The strength of the Republic lies not only in the endurance of its institutions but in the continual effort to align governance with the lived realities of its people. Each generation is called upon to renew the constitutional promise—that freedom must translate into dignity, opportunity, and justice for all. The Indian Republic is not a finished project; it is a shared responsibility, sustained by democratic participation and judged by how faithfully the State serves its citizens.
On this 77th Republic Day, it can be said that citizens are at the centre of governance today, and the Indian Republic is advancing, strengthening social justice, enabling economic inclusion, and reinforcing the constitutional vision of a welfare-oriented democratic republic.
The author is the Union Minister of Defence
