India’s vibrant democracy thrives on the idea that elected representatives embody the people’s mandate. So, 795 MPs, approximately 4,123 Members of the Legislative Assemblies and and 31.8 lakh elected representatives in the local government, together formulate policies and ensure their implementation at the levels of the central and State government, raise the issues of the people in Parliament, Assembly, and Councils, and work on issues of importance as part of committees.
At least 75% of Lok Sabha members and nearly 64% of MLAs are graduates. And considering their central role in policy-making and delivering public services, we often forget to ask a key question: what makes an elected representative competent? While educational qualifications provide critical skills, effective governance requires a spectrum of qualities in the form of behavioural, functional, and domain-based competencies.
