It has now been twelve years since the Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power promising strong, decisive leadership and a “new India”. Yet a closer look at how the country’s basic institutions actually function- elections, schools, courts, police, and hospitals- reveals a different picture. Many old problems remain unfixed; in some cases they have worsened. These are not minor technical issues. They shape the daily lives of millions of ordinary Indians.

The biggest missed opportunity is election reform. Courts and expert committees have recommended changes for years, but little has been done to curb the role of money and criminal influence in politics.

In the 2024 general election, nearly half of all elected MPs, 46 per cent, had criminal cases against them, and about a third of those cases involved serious charges such as murder, rape or kidnapping. The proportion has risen compared with earlier elections. The average asset value of an MP stands at roughly ₹38 crore. Total campaign spending was estimated at nearly ₹1 lakh crore, while authorities seized over ₹8,800 crore in cash and other inducements.

The electoral bonds scheme, introduced in 2017, allowed anonymous donations to political parties. The Supreme Court struck it down in 2024 after nearly $2 billion had flowed through the system, the bulk of it to the ruling party. Companies continue to find other routes, including trusts. There is still no public funding of elections, no effective cap on party expenditure, no recall provision for non-performing representatives, and weak checks on the use of caste or religion for electoral gain. Accusations of selective deletions from voter lists before polls persist. In short, winning still outweighs honesty.

India’s school system has quietly divided into two unequal worlds. Government schools have closed at a rate of roughly 25 a day over the past decade, nearly 90,000 between 2014 and 2024, while private schools expanded. In 2005, 71 per cent of children attended government schools; the figure is now below half.

Those remaining in government schools are disproportionately from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other disadvantaged groups, so the burden of a weaker system falls hardest on those least able to escape it.

India also runs too many parallel systems: CBSE, state boards, international curricula, madrasas and panchayat schools, without a shared quality standard. Language policy remains contested. Independent surveys continue to show weak learning outcomes in basic reading and arithmetic for most students. Madrasas, which educate millions, largely escape formal quality oversight. The National Education Policy promised major reforms, yet in practice the divide between those who can afford private education and those who cannot has deepened.

Corruption has not disappeared; it has become more institutionalised. India’s ranking on global corruption indices has not improved meaningfully. Everyday bribery for basic services continues. A well-documented pattern exists of companies donating to parties and later receiving contracts, or of investigations against them slowing down.

Certain sectors- mining and pharmaceuticals among them- are widely seen as captured by the very interests they are meant to regulate. Critics point to a ‘washing machine’ effect: opposition politicians facing serious corruption cases join the ruling party and their legal troubles often recede. The Lokpal, created to tackle high-level corruption, has remained largely ineffective.

India’s courts are drowning in unresolved cases: more than 5.6 crore, nearly five crore of them in the district courts. About one in four High Court cases has been pending for over ten years. Judge-to-population ratios fall well short of expert recommendations, and 20–30 per cent of judicial posts remain vacant.

Inconsistent rulings on similar facts make the law feel unpredictable. The backlog rarely harms the powerful or the well-connected, who can afford to wait; it grinds down ordinary citizens seeking justice. Meaningful procedural reform and a serious attack on vacancies remain elusive.

Most states still police citizens under the framework of the 1861 Police Act. More than 20 per cent of posts remain vacant. The force is overworked, under-trained and often viewed by the public as unfriendly rather than protective.

Custodial violence, selective enforcement and political interference persist. In 2006 the Supreme Court ordered major reforms to insulate the police from political control; most of those directions have never been implemented.

India’s healthcare system retains deep structural flaws. Drug pricing lacks transparency, and incentives for doctors to prescribe certain medicines remain common. Private hospitals frequently charge multiples of the actual cost for drugs and diagnostics. Ayushman Bharat has faced widespread fraud, leading regulators to suspend or penalise thousands of hospitals.

Contaminated medicines have caused child deaths. Regulation is fragmented across numerous state authorities and a central body, creating loopholes rather than safety. Public hospitals stay underfunded, and patient frustration remains high.

These problems do not exist in isolation. Together they form a pattern of governments speaking of transformation while avoiding the harder work of delivery. Election reform, equitable education, effective anti-corruption action, faster courts, modern policing and an honest healthcare system remain unfinished business. Until these issues are confronted directly rather than papered over with slogans, the promise of a ‘new India’ stays out of reach for millions.

India has made genuine advances in infrastructure, digital public goods and welfare delivery over the past decade. A strong nation, however, is built not only on highways and technology but on its capacity to solve the everyday problems of its citizens.

Six issues continue to demand urgent attention: unemployment, agrarian distress, rising prices, environmental degradation, gaps in healthcare and education, and the need to strengthen social harmony. Millions of young people still seek quality jobs. Farmers battle uncertain incomes. Families feel the pinch of living costs. Air and water pollution threaten public health. Quality education and healthcare remain uneven, while social divisions weaken the democratic fabric.

Constructive criticism is not anti-national; it is essential for better governance. A government’s greatest success lies not merely in celebrating achievements but in honestly confronting the challenges that remain. India deserves progress that is inclusive, sustainable and benefits every citizen.