Press freedom rank India 2002-2024

Following a declining trend that emerged in 2017, India's press freedom rank dropped further to 159 out of 180 countries surveyed in the World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders in 2024. With a score of 31.28 the South Asian democracy was among regions where the freedom of the press was seriously threatened. The Press Freedom Index score in 2024 was evaluated based on the political, economic, and sociocultural contexts as well as the legal framework and level of safety in a country. 

Perils of pursuing journalism in India 

Despite constitutional guarantees such as the freedom of speech and expression, journalists and media organizations in India continue to face challenges in reporting issues crucial to upholding democratic values. In the last two decades, over 50 journalists were killed in the country while several others were imprisoned under anti-state charges.

 Press freedom in APAC region

The press freedom index varies widely in the Asia-Pacific region, with New Zealand being one of the highest-ranking countries globally. In contrast, the regimes in China and North Korea continue to exercise strict control over the media. Press freedom remains under threat due to censorship, violence against journalists, and government pressure on media outlets not just in the Asia-Pacific region, but around the world.