Rule of Law Index

The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index is the world’s leading source of the original, independent rule of law data. At its core, the rule of law guarantees public safety, legal security, respect for human rights, access to justice, and accountability. Covering 139 countries and jurisdictions, the Index draws on national surveys of over 138,000 households and 4,200 legal practitioners and experts to measure how the rule of law is felt and perceived worldwide.

Global Indices and India’s Rankings represent the country’s performance on indicators that range from social to economic factors along with political indicators as well. To know about Global Indices & India’s Ranking, visit the linked article.

Kickstart your UPSC 2023 preparation now and complement it with the links given below:

History of Rule of Law

The rule of law is as old as civilization. Times and society have changed the perception of different writers, leading to different definitions and approaches to the rule of law. Many accounts of the rule of law identify its origins with classical Greek thought, citing passages from Plato and Aristotle. Therefore, Greek ideas about the rule of law are best understood as exemplary models that provide inspiration and authority for later periods. The Roman contribution to the rule of law tradition was both negative and positive, with the negative tradition being of far greater importance.

The concept of the rule of law is a very dynamic concept that can be interpreted to ensure the successful functioning of a democracy. Simply put, the rule of law is the limitation of the arbitrary exercise of power by subjecting it to well-defined and established laws. The nation must be ruled by law, not by the arbitrary decisions of individuals. Therefore, the rule of law embodies the doctrine of the rule of law.

About the Rule of Law Index

The Rule of Law Index is a quantitative assessment tool developed by the World Justice Project (WJP) that aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive picture of the extent to which countries practice the rule of law.

The World Justice Project defines a rule of law system as a system that upholds the following four universal principles.

  • The government, its officials, and agents are liable in accordance with the law.
  • Laws are clear, promulgated, stable and fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the safety of people and property.
  • The process by which laws are made, applied, and enforced is accessible, efficient, and fair.
  • Justice is administered by competent, ethical, and independent representatives and neutrals who are sufficient in number, adequately resourced, and reflective of the communities they serve.

It measures the effectiveness of the rule of law in countries across eight factors:

  1. Restrictions on government powers
  2. No corruption
  3. Open government
  4. Basic rights
  5. Order and security
  6. Regulatory enforcement
  7. Civil justice
  8. Criminal justice

Given below are a few other related links in line with the UPSC Syllabus:

World Social Justice Day World Day for International Justice (17 July)
National Mission of Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms Social Justice Questions in UPSC Mains GS 2
Governance Questions for UPSC Mains Constitution Questions for UPSC Mains

Rule of Law Index Framework

The World Justice Project defines a “rule of law index” system as one in which the following four universal principles are upheld:

  • The government, its officials, and agents are liable in accordance with the law
  • Laws are clear, promulgated, stable and fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the safety of people and property.
  • The process by which laws are made, applied, and enforced is accessible, efficient, and fair.
  • Justice is administered by competent, ethical, and independent representatives and neutrals who are sufficient in number, adequately resourced, and reflective of the communities they serve.

Rule of Law Index (India)

India was ranked 79th out of 139 countries and jurisdictions in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021. law supremacy. Denmark, Norway, and Finland topped the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021.

Here is the list of Countries according to their rankings:

Rank Country
1 Denmark
2 Norway
3 Finland
79 India
139 Venezuela
138 Cambodia
137 The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Conclusion

The rule of law is the legal principle that a nation should be governed by law and not by the arbitrary decisions of individual government officials. First of all, this refers to the influence and authority of the law in society, in particular, as a constraint on behavior, including the behavior of public officials.

Aspirants can visit the linked article and get details about the upcoming government exams that comprise current affairs and general awareness as an important topic in the syllabus.

For the best preparation strategy for competitive exams candidates can visit the linked article and get detailed study material and preparation tips to excel in the examination.

Visit BYJU’S for the latest exam updates for competitive exam preparation.

Other Related Links
IAS Salary IAS Questions & Answers
NCERT Notes For IAS UPSC IAS Mains Answer-Writing 2023
Free IAS Preparation UPSC Calendar 2023

Frequently Asked Questions on Rule of Law Index

Q1

What does the rule of law mean in India?

The “rule of law” means that the law governs the country and not the dictates of a king or dictator or the whim and fantasy of certain groups of people who are positioned as neo-intellectuals or members of the political clan.

Comments

Leave a Comment

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.

*

*