Overview of Human Rights in India

The Republic of India is a multiparty, federal, parliamentary democracy. India has a mixed human rights record. While there have been improvement in some areas, there have also been reports of abuses.

Societal and governmental discrimination based on caste, social, and/or religious grounds continues despite new laws that are supposed to protect against it. Dalits, or those who perform the most menial and degrading of jobs in the nation, continue to face violence and discrimination. They are faced with harassment, police brutality, mutilations and killings if they attempt to cross caste barriers. The Adivasis, an indigenous people in India, are often misplaced due to the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Which the government still using to claim lands for development.

Members of the security forces continue to enjoy impunity for human rights violations. Laws, such as the National Security Act, the Disturbed Areas Act, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Public Safety Act, and the Criminal Code of Procedure, allow security agents to be shielded from any legal accountability for many abuses committed. Torture, rape, beatings, and custodial killings fall under this umbrella of safety.

India has the highest population of working children in the world. Many of these work in the worst forms of child labor. While these children should be protected by child labor laws, due to reasons such as corruption, apathy or caste bias, the government chooses to ignore the plight of the children.

A recent estimate indicates that 5.1 million people live with HIV/AIDS in India. Many experts suggest this number is low and the actual number could be as high as ten million. Those living with this disease face stigmatization and discrimination. They are also denied employment and access to education and healthcare.

While India is home to a generally free press, the government occasionally limits this freedom.  As well, freedom of movement is occasionally hindered. 

Authorities sometimes harass human rights activists.

Since 2003, there has been a tentative cease-fire along the Line of Control in Kashmir. However, terrorism-related violence inside of Indian-controlled Kashmir continues. Bomb and grenade attacks on civilians and on moderate Kashmir leaders hinder the peace process. Since the insurgency began in 1989, thousands of people have disappeared and most are presumed dead.

Thousands of Burmese seek refugee in India each year in order to escape the Burmese military government. However, many are turned back or if allowed to stay, are not granted proper protections under the law.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

126th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.