The features of democracy can be categorised in the form of questions followed by classification of features like:
(a) Who are the rulers in the democracy?
People are the rulers in the democracy who ruled with the help of its elected representatives of the people.
(b) What kind of election constitutes a democratic election?
Free and fair election constitutes a democratic election. But the elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives. And it should be possible for people to use this choice to remove the existing rulers if they wish so.
(c) Who are the people who can elect the rulers?
Citizens above 18 years of age elect the rulers on the basis of one person, one vote, one value, i.e. universal adult franchise. As democracy is based on the fundamental principles of political equality in a good democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.
(d) What kind of government is democracy?
Good democracy is based on the rule of law ans respect for rights. A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes simply because it has won an election. It has to respect basic rules.
(e) As democracy is based on deliberation and negotiation, every major decision has to go through a series of consultations and every office-bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the constitution and the law.
Thus, a good democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens' rights.

A challenge refers to a difficulty which carries within it an opportunity for further progress and can be overcome
The following are the major challenges to democracy in India.
(a) Foundational challenge: This challenge involves:
(i) making transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government.
(ii) bringing down the existing non-democratic regime.
(iii) keeping military away from controlling government.
(iv) establishing a sovereign and functional state.
(b) Challenge of expansion of democracy: This challenge signifies:
(i) extension of democratic power to local governments.
(ii) expansion of federal principles to all the federal units.
(iii) political empowerment to women and minorities.
(c) Challenge of deepening of democracy: This challenge ensures:
(i) strengthening of democratic institutions and democratic principles.
(ii) to check the influence of the wealthy and powerful people in democratic decisions.
(iii) empowering the general section of people through democratic institutions.

The challenge of expansion is a very common challenge faced by an established democracy.
(a) The challenge of expansion involves applying the basic principles of democracy across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions.
(b) It involves ensuring greater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all the units of the federation and inclusion of women and minority groups.
(c) It also implies that less and less decisions should remain outside the arena of democratic control. Most countries including India and other. democracies, like the United States, face this challenge.
The challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one way or the other. This challenge ensures:
(a) strengthening of democratic institutions and principles.
(b) to check the influence of the wealthy and powerful people in the democratic decisions.
(c) empowering the general section of people through democratic institutions

The following factors must not take place in a democracy, if it is a good democracy.
(a) Corruption in any form
(b) Decision-making based only on the interests of the majority group.
(c) Rigging election results.
(d) Concentration of power in few hands
(e) Overlooking of interest of people at large
(f) Electing candidates with corrupt and criminal backgrounds
(g) Improper governance

The following are the major challenges to democracy in India.
(a) Foundational Challenge: This challenge involves:
(i) making transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government.
(ii) bringing down the existing non-democratic regime.
(iii) keeping military away from controlling government.
(iv) establishing a sovereign and functional state.
(b) Challenge of expansion of democracy: This challenge signifies:
(i) extension of democratic power to local governments
(ii) expansion of federal principles to all the federal units
(iii) political empowerment to women and minorities.
(c) Challenge of deepening of democracy: This challenge ensures:
(i) strengthening of democratic institutions and democratic principles.
(ii) to check the influence of the wealthy and powerful people in democratic decisions.
(iii) empowering the general section of people through democratic institutions.

The following are the major challenges to democracy in India.
(a) Foundational Challenge: This challenge involves:
(i) making transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government.
(ii) bringing down the existing non-democratic regime.
(iii) keeping military away from controlling government.
(iv) establishing a sovereign and functional state.
(b) Challenge of expansion of democracy: This challenge signifies:
(i) extension of democratic power to local governments
(ii) expansion of federal principles to all the federal units
(iii) political empowerment to women and minorities.
(c) Challenge of deepening of democracy: This challenge ensures:
(i) strengthening of democratic institutions and democratic principles.
(ii) to check the influence of the wealthy and powerful people in democratic decisions.
(iii) empowering the general section of people through democratic institutions.

(i) Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. At the same time, legal-constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy. They are to be carried out mainly by political activities, parties movements and politically conscious citizens.
(ii) Legal changes can sometimes be counter-productive. Generally, laws that seek to ban something are not very successful. Rather laws that give political actors incentives to do good things have more chances of working. For, example, the `Right to Information Act' empowers people to act as watchdogs of democracy.
(iii) The main focus of political reforms should be on ways to strengthen democratic practice. The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.
(iv) Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how measures that rely or democratic movements, citizens' organisations and the media are likely to succeed. 

(i) Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. At the same time, legal-constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy. They are to be carried out mainly by political activities, parties movements and politically conscious citizens.
(ii) Legal changes can sometimes be counter-productive. Generally, laws that seek to ban something are not very successful. Rather laws that give political actors incentives to do good things have more chances of working. For, example, the `Right to Information Act' empowers people to act as watchdogs of democracy.
(iii) The main focus of political reforms should be on ways to strengthen democratic practice. The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.
(iv) Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how measures that rely or democratic movements, citizens' organisations and the media are likely to succeed. 

A 'challenge' is a difficulty which carries within it an opportunity for progress. Three major challenge are :
(i) Foundational challenge is about making the transition to democracy and then instituting a democratic government. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling the government and establishing a sovereign and functional state. Example : Myanmar, Chile, Nepal
(ii) Challenge of Expansion is faced (by most of the established democracies. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Most countries including India and other democracies like the U.S. face this challenge.
(iii) Deepening of democracy : This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy, especially those that help people's participation and control. This attempts to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision. ​​​​​​​

A 'challenge' is a difficulty which carries within it an opportunity for progress. Three major challenge are :
(i) Foundational challenge is about making the transition to democracy and then instituting a democratic government. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling the government and establishing a sovereign and functional state. Example : Myanmar, Chile, Nepal
(ii) Challenge of Expansion is faced (by most of the established democracies. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Most countries including India and other democracies like the U.S. face this challenge.
(iii) Deepening of democracy : This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy, especially those that help people's participation and control. This attempts to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision. ​​​​​​​