India in 2018: Crises of Institutional Legitimacy and Gender

Like the previous year, 2018 was marked by a series of vigilante attacks and gruesome acts of violence against women. The Supreme Court passed important gender-related progressive judgements, yet the institution and other public bodies witnessed unprecedented infighting, scandal, and politicization. The Indian economy showed increased growth. The year witnessed the first major electoral setback since 2014 for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, and foreshadowed what will likely be a hotly contested general election in 2019.