India Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
India's rule of law was 0.29 in 2025, ranked 85th globally. This represents a 52.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
India's rule of law stood at 0.29 in 2025, a rise of +0.10 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.29 by 2025. India ranked 85th globally.
India's Rule of Law score, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, has experienced fluctuations over the past 26 years. The score peaked in 2000 at 0.35, indicating a relatively high level of adherence to the rule of law during that period. However, the score has since declined to a trough of -0.11 in 2021, a significant drop that places India at #85 globally. In comparison, Jordan, which ranks closest to India, had a score of 0.31 in 2025. The score has begun to recover, reaching 0.29 in 2025. For India to improve its standing, a sustained commitment to strengthening its institutions and promoting transparency would be essential. This would require concerted efforts from both the government and civil society to address the root causes of the decline and implement meaningful reforms, potentially leading to a reversal of the downward trend and a return to the peak levels of 2000.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.36 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.29 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.29 | +0.10 | #85 |
| 2023 | 0.19 | +0.07 | #88 |
| 2022 | 0.11 | +0.22 | #90 |
| 2021 | -0.11 | −0.05 | #100 |
| 2020 | -0.06 | +0.01 | #95 |
| 2019 | -0.07 | −0.07 | #97 |
| 2018 | 0.00 | +0.03 | #94 |
| 2017 | -0.03 | +0.03 | #95 |
| 2016 | -0.06 | +0.01 | #96 |
| 2015 | -0.07 | −0.00 | #91 |
| 2014 | -0.07 | −0.02 | #87 |
| 2013 | -0.05 | +0.02 | #93 |
| 2012 | -0.06 | +0.02 | #94 |
| 2011 | -0.09 | −0.05 | #95 |
| 2010 | -0.04 | −0.05 | #93 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
India matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2010. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
India's rule of law was 0.29 in 2025. Ranked 85th globally. This represents a 52.4% increase from the previous year.
India's rule of law peaked at 0.35 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in India was -0.11 in 2021.
India ranks 85th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
India's rule of law is projected to reach 0.29 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of India in 2025 was 0.29. This ranks 85th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_india_rule-of-law,
title = {India Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/india/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}