India slipped ten places to 51st position in the 2019 Democracy Index's global ranking, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, which cited "erosion of civil liberties" in the nation as the main cause for the downtrend.

India's overall score fell from 7.23 in 2018 to 6.90 in the Index that provides a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide for 165 independent states & two territories.

On India, the report said that the nation dropped 10 places in the Democracy Index's global ranking to 51st. The main cause of democratic regression was an erosion of civil liberties in India.

The Democracy Index is based on 5 categories -- electoral process & pluralism; the functioning of government; political participation; political culture; & civil liberties.

Based on their total score, the countries are classified as 1 of 4 types of regime: "full democracy" (scores greater than 8); flawed democracy — scores greater than 6 & less than or equal to 8; hybrid regime — scores greater than 4 & less than or equal to 6; authoritarian regime — scores less than or equal to 4".

India was included in the "flawed democracy" category. 

Meanwhile, China's score fell to 2.26 in the 2019 index, & it is now ranked 153rd, close to the bottom of the global rankings.

The report said that "Over the past year discrimination against minorities, especially in the north-western region of Xinjiang, has intensified. Digital surveillance of the population continued apace in 2019, representing a further constraint on individual freedoms".

Among other developing economies, Brazil was ranked 52nd with a score of 6.86, Russia stood at 134th with a score of 3.11.

Meanwhile, Pakistan was ranked 108th on the overall list with a score of 4.25, while Sri Lanka was at 69th place with a score of 6.27, Bangladesh (at 80th with 5.88 score).

The overall list was topped by Norway, followed by Iceland & Sweden. Other nations in the top 10 include New Zealand at the fourth place, Finland (5th), Ireland (6th), Denmark (7th), Canada (8th), Australia (9th) & Switzerland (10th).

North Korea was at the bottom of the global ranking at 167th place.

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