The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has gained the full support of the Indian state and expanded its youth outreach over the last decade [1, 2].
This shift represents a fundamental change in the relationship between the ideological organization and the government. By aligning with state power, the RSS has moved from a peripheral influence to a central actor in national governance.
Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot said the RSS has transformed during the last decade [1, 2]. This evolution is linked to the BJP’s political strategy originating in Gujarat, which has aligned the RSS more closely with state power [1, 2].
As part of this strategy, the organization is actively courting youth through its Shakhas [1, 2]. This effort seeks to embed the organization's ideology in younger generations to ensure long-term influence.
This integration means the RSS is no longer just an ideological guide but is now held directly accountable for specific government outcomes [1, 2]. One such area is the national education policy, where the organization is seen as a primary driver of policy decisions [1, 2].
Jaffrelot said that certain political maneuvers, such as delimitation, align with the ideological goals of both the RSS and the BJP [2]. He said that discussions regarding delimitation in India date back to 1951 [2].
Under the leadership of chief Mohan Bhagwat, the organization continues to navigate this transition from a social movement to a state-backed entity [1, 2]. The alignment suggests that the boundary between the party in power and the ideological wing of the movement has blurred significantly [1, 2].
“The RSS has gained the full support of the Indian state and expanded its youth outreach over the last decade.”
The transition of the RSS from an external ideological influencer to an entity integrated with state machinery suggests a systemic shift in Indian governance. By influencing education policy and targeting youth, the organization is attempting to institutionalize its worldview within the state's formal structures, making the ideological goals of the RSS and the policy goals of the BJP nearly indistinguishable.
