Formal or procedural democracy does not by any means guarantee ...

Formal or procedural democracy focuses primarily on the mechanisms and institutions of governance, such as periodic elections, the rule of law, and constitutional frameworks [t3][t6]. While it establishes the 'rules of the game' and ensures that rulers are elected by the people [c3][c5], it is often described as a 'thin' or 'minimalist' version of democracy [t1]. Such a system guarantees political and civil rights and adheres to constitutionalism to prevent tyranny [t2][t7], but it does not inherently ensure substantive social or economic outcomes. Substantive democracy, by contrast, addresses deeper societal issues like material equality and the protection of vulnerable groups [t1][t5]. Therefore, while procedural democracy provides the framework for governance, it does not by any means guarantee the 'absence of caste discrimination,' which is a substantive social outcome requiring active intervention beyond mere formal procedures.

Sources

1. [1] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > A simple definition > p. 3
2. [2] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > OVERVIEW > p. 56
3. [3] https://www.deshbandhucollege.ac.in/pdf/resources/1586260855_Pol_Sc(H)-IV-Political_Institutions_and_Practices.pdf
4. [4] https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/rule-law-and-democracy-addressing-gap-between-policies-and-practices