Students need to guard against undermining institutions
An Indian Express editorial argues that student activism should strengthen universities, legislatures, and the judiciary rather than weaken institutional legitimacy.
- Student criticism should reform democratic institutions rather than delegitimise them.
The Indian Express editorial argues that student activism should strengthen democratic institutions rather than undermine them. Its central claim is that universities, legislatures, and the judiciary remain essential to democratic life even when they appear slow, imperfect, or frustrating.
The Indian Express editorial's position is that criticism is healthy only when it improves institutions. It warns that persistent distrust can weaken the habit of constructive disagreement and make reform harder.
UPSC may ask whether activism strengthens democracy when it pressures institutions to reform, or weakens democracy when it erodes institutional legitimacy. The issue fits governance, constitutionalism, and ethics because it concerns how criticism should remain reform-oriented while preserving trust in democratic institutions.
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