Section Article

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON INDIAN POLITICS
Author(s): Om Prakash Swami

Abstract
Social movements have played a transformative role in shaping Indian politics influencing public policy electoral outcomes institutional reforms democratic participation and the evolution of political consciousness. Rooted in India’s long tradition of collective action—from anti-colonial mobilization to contemporary rights-based movements—social movements continue to reshape the democratic landscape by articulating grievances challenging power structures expanding public debate and advancing demands for justice. Around the year 2020 India witnessed heightened activism across digital spaces grassroots mobilizations and identity-based movements that revived debates on citizenship governance rights gender equality environmental protection and welfare policy. These movements demonstrate how civil society constitutes an essential pillar of Indian democracy often serving as a counterbalance to institutional authority. This research examines the historical foundations ideological trajectories organizational structures and political impact of social movements in India. Drawing on pre-2018 scholarship and contextualizing developments around 2020 the study analyzes how movements influence legislation party politics media narratives public opinion and the democratic process. It also highlights challenges such as state responses internal fragmentation politicization and the increasing role of digital platforms. The paper argues that social movements not only shape political agendas but also deepen democratic participation by giving voice to marginalized groups expanding civic engagement and challenging entrenched hierarchies.