NEW DELHI, April 15 -- By the end of the mega-election year of 2024, on the grand stage of democracy, over 60 countries and nearly 4 billion people, encompassing almost half of the global population, would have voted in presidential, legislative, and local elections. India, one among these countries, with a staggering 986.8 million registered voters (approximately 96.8 crores) distributed across 28 states and 8 union territories, holds the distinction of being the largest democracy on the global stage.

India has 2,360 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI), of which 7 are national parties, 52 are state parties, and 2,301 are not officially acknowledged at a national or state level. All are eligible to co...