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 challenge of expansion is 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 expansion is 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.

(i) Foundational challenge relates to making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government. It involves establishing a sovereign and functional state.
(ii) It involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing civilian control over all governmental institutions by holding elections.
(iii) It involves the recognition of peoples choice and opportunity to change rulers, recognize people's will. In countries like Myanmar political leader Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest for more than 20 years. Thus, in this case, foundational challenge recognizes the need to release political leaders and recall them from exile and holding of multiparty elections.

The challenge of deepening of Democracy is applied to every Democracy in one or the other way.
This challenge ensures
(i) Strengthening of democratic institutions and democratic principles.
(ii) It also ensures, to check the influence of the wealthy and powerful people in the democratic decisions.
(iii) The challenge deepening thus, tries to empower the general section of people through democratic institutions.

(i) Bringing down the existing non-democratic regime.
(ii) Keeping military away from controlling government.
(iii) Establishing a sovereign and functional state. At least one-fourth of the globe is still not under democratic governance. The challenge for democracy in these parts of the world is very stark. These countries face the foundational challenge of making the transition to democracy and then instituting a democratic government.

The 'Foundational Challenge' applied to the non-democratic countries of the world. It implies:
(a) Making transition to Democracy
(b) Non-democratic regime to democratic regime.
(c) Control of government from military to the elected leaders.
(d) Promotion of sovereign and functional state.

The following points show the expanded scope of democracy
(i) Democratic rights are not limited to political rights like, the right to vote, to stand in elections and form political organisations. A democracy should grant some social and economic rights to its citizens.
(ii) The power sharing in democracy is extended to the power sharing between government and social groups.
(iii) Modern democracy cannot value only the voice of majority, but it respects the voice of minority 'as well.
(iv) The democracy has extended its scope from government and its activities to eliminate discrimination based on caste, religion and gender.

Democracy is the governance by a group of people (government) who are elected by the people of the country in free and fair elections. The government governs the country according to the constitution. In a democracy, people have freedom of speech and expression and judiciary is independent of the control of executive and legislature.
Features:
(a) People choose their own government.
(b) Final decision making powers rests with the elected representatives of the people.
(c) Holding of free and fair elections.
(d) Every adult citizen has one vote and every vote has equal value.
(e) Guarantee of fundamental rights and freedom to the people.
(f) Rule of law prevails.
(g) Judiciary is independent of legislature and executive.

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) Politics through religion: Religious communities on their own can find ways of peaceful existence, but increasing political interference has led to a greater religious intolerance. This intolerance becomes dangerous when politicians interfered with people's passions. For example, Sectarian tensions mixed with the rivalries of the 2007 'elections in Punjab, when activists of various Sikh bodies clashed with the followers of the Sirsa based Dera Sacha Sauda, which had close ties with the Congress Party, over an advertisement the Dera placed in various dailies depicting its chief dressed as Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.
(ii) Caste War: Caste wars are not going to disappear from the democratic map of India because politics is moving consistently on narrow sectarian lines. At present, it is difficult to decide if caste is altering politics or politics is shifting caste equations. For example, caste alienation has been deepened by the reservation for Jats and the government needs to rethink about its reservation policy.
(iii) Remove economic inequality: To remove economic inequality the need is delivery of basic social and physical infrastructure. we still have poor infrastructure. Inspector Raj and labour policy that discourages employment. It is the failure of the State which is major cause of concern. The present growth is in stride with the rapidly changing global environment but for the poor to really benefit the country needs more functioning schools and health centres. Our concern in India should be to lift poor people into the middle class. 
(iv) Gender division: Gender discrimination and women's political representation are not given adequate attention. In India proportion of women in legislatures has been very low.
(v) Corruption: The Indian democracy has faced with routine cases of corruption. For example. 2G scam, CWG scam, fodder scam, to mention a few. In substantive terms it may be reasonable to expect from democracy a government that is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption. But unfortunately the record of Indian democracy is not impressive and clean.