India stands 151st on World Press Freedom Index 2025 out of 180 countries

As the world observes World Press Freedom Day, the situation for journalists in India paints a concerning picture. The latest World Press Freedom Index 2025 places India at a dismal 151st out of 180 countries, a stark indicator of the severe challenges faced by the nation's press.

This low ranking aligns with observations from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has described the environment for journalists in India as being under an “unofficial state of emergency.”

The report highlights a growing trend of political powers exerting increasing control over both state-owned and private media outlets. “Critics argue that dissenting voices are being systematically suppressed through a combination of legal tactics, financial pressures, and the consolidation of media ownership”, as per RSF.

Independent journalists in India reportedly face a multitude of threats, including criminal prosecutions, arbitrary arrests, and the invocation of outdated colonial-era laws like sedition and anti-terrorism charges.

 The Freedom Index likely RSF’s analysis of India underscores the physical dangers faced by journalists, noting that India remains a perilous place for the press, with an average of two to three journalists tragically killed each year in connection with their work.

 Those covering sensitive subjects such as the situation in Kashmir, environmental issues, and government corruption are said to be at particularly high risk, stated the report.

A particularly troubling aspect likely detailed in the report is the vulnerability of women journalists, who frequently become targets of coordinated online harassment campaigns involving doxxing and threats of violence and sexual assault.

The economic realities within the Indian media landscape further compound these challenges. “With many media outlets heavily reliant on government advertising revenue, the pressure to align with government narratives and avoid critical reporting is significant, thereby compromising editorial independence across various platforms,” said the report.

The concerning situation in India, as reflected in its low ranking on the Freedom Index, underscores a broader struggle for press freedom in South Asia, as evidenced by 398 harassment and attack cases reported against journalists in neighboring Bangladesh, which sits two sports above India in the index.