Do you Know? Where Does India Stand on the Global Press Freedom Map?
Explore our world ranking and what it means for journalism in India.
India’s Press Freedom Ranking Overview
• 2025 Rank: 151st out of 180 countries
• Previous Rank (2024): 159th
• Top 3 Countries: Norway, Estonia, Netherlands
• India’s Neighbors:
o Nepal: 90th
o Maldives: 104th
o Sri Lanka: 139th
o Bangladesh: 149th
o Bhutan: 152nd
o Pakistan: 158th
o Myanmar: 169th
o Afghanistan: 175th
o China: 178th
Key Factors Affecting India’s Ranking
evaluates countries based on five indicators: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety of journalists.
• Political Context: India’s media has experienced an “unofficial state of emergency” since 2014, with
increasing alignment between major media houses and the ruling party.
• Legal Framework: The use of colonial-era laws, such as sedition and defamation, along with new
legislations like the 2023 Telecommunications Act, has granted the government extensive powers to
control media and suppress dissent.
• Economic Context: Media ownership is highly concentrated, with major conglomerates like Reliance
Industries and the Adani Group controlling significant portions of the media landscape, potentially
influencing editorial independence.
• Sociocultural Context: The media landscape lacks diversity, with managerial positions predominantly
held by upper-caste Hindu men, leading to underrepresentation of marginalized communities.
• Safety of Journalists: Journalists face threats, harassment, and violence, with at least 15 charged under
anti-terrorism laws and 36 detained since 2014.
Notable Incidents
• Harassment and Threats: Journalists like Harleen Kapoor and Arjun Menon have reported threats and
pressure to avoid sensitive topics, reflecting a climate of fear and suppression.
• Legal Actions: The arrest of journalist Siddique Kappan and the revocation of non-profit status for
independent outlets like The Reporters’ Collective highlight the use of legal mechanisms to stifle
independent journalism.
