India Ranked 159th in World Press Freedom Index 2024
India's Position in the Global Press Freedom Index
India has been ranked 159th among 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index 2024, released by Reporters Without Borders, an international non-profit organization. The index reflects the level of press freedom in various countries, taking into account factors like political context, legal framework, economic conditions, socio-cultural context, and security.
India's ranking has dropped from 161st in the 2023 list, with its score falling from 36.62 to 31.28. This decline raises concerns about the state of press freedom in the world's largest democracy.
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| India got 159th position among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. |
Top and Bottom Rankings in the Index
Norway continues to top the index, with Denmark and Sweden securing the second and third positions, respectively. Eritrea is at the bottom, with Syria slightly ahead. Other notable countries in the index include the United States (55th), Brazil (82nd), Sri Lanka (150th), Pakistan (152nd), Russia (162nd), Myanmar (171st), China (172nd), North Korea (177th), Vietnam (174th), and Afghanistan (178th).
Factors Influencing India's Decline in Press Freedom
The Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has introduced several new laws that give the government significant power to control the media, censor news, and silence critics. These include the 2023 Telecommunications Act, the 2023 draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, and the 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection Act. These legislative measures have raised concerns among press freedom advocates about the future of journalism in India.
Global Press Freedom Trends
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index reveals a mixed picture. In Europe, especially within the EU, press freedom is generally considered "good." However, challenges persist in countries like Hungary, Malta, and Greece. In contrast, the Middle East and North Africa face significant challenges, with almost half of the countries experiencing "very serious" conditions regarding press freedom. Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria are among the countries with pressing issues related to journalism freedom.
The index also reveals that the climate for journalism is "bad" in seven out of ten countries and "satisfactory" in only three out of ten. The press freedom questionnaire, which determines the ranking, consists of five categories: political context, legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context, and security. India scored poorly on all counts except security indicators.
Conclusion
India's drop to 159th position in the World Press Freedom Index 2024 highlights the ongoing challenges facing journalists and the media in the country. The decline underscores the need for greater respect for press freedom, accountability, and transparency in government-media relations. The global community must continue to monitor and address the factors contributing to India's fall in the press freedom index to ensure a free and independent press, crucial for any democracy.
