India’s democracy thrives on the notion that its elected representatives embody the people’s mandate. However, beyond educational qualifications, effective governance requires a spectrum of competencies spanning behavioral, functional, and domain-based expertise. Behavioral skills enable politicians to engage effectively with stakeholders, while functional competencies encompass a deep understanding of legislative and policymaking processes. Domain-based competencies tailor expertise to the specific needs of constituencies. To institutionalize this vision, the Karmayogi Competency Model aligns competencies with roles, identifying skill gaps and developing a comprehensive capacity-building plan. Continuous learning, access to information, and a shift in public perception towards demanding competence are crucial for the success of competency-based politics.