India, Jan. 4 -- As India enters 2026, the country stands at a critical inflection point. Urbanisation is accelerating, aspirations are rising, and governments at all levels are under pressure to deliver faster, better, and more inclusive outcomes. Yet one challenge cuts across geography, income, and politics: the growing distance between citizens and the institutions that govern them.

Across India's cities and towns, civic engagement remains shallow. For many citizens, participation begins and ends with voting. Governments, too, often treat elections as the sole indicator of democratic health. But democracy is not a periodic event - it is a continuous relationship. If India is to build resilient, responsive, and trusted governance syste...