ISLAMABAD: India ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released on April 30 by Reporters Without Borders, marking a drop of six places from its 151st position in 2025.
The watchdog, also known as RSF, observed that the global average score has never been so low in 25 years, with more than half of all countries now classified under “difficult” or “very serious” conditions for press freedom.
Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark, and Sweden occupy the top positions, while nearly all of India’s neighbors rank higher than India, said an Indian media report based on RSF’s findings.
The report attributes the crisis in India’s press freedom to rising violence against journalists, concentrated media ownership, and increasing political alignment of news outlets.
It highlights the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, stating that since 2014, the media environment has deteriorated significantly.
Despite a vast and diverse media landscape, RSF describes it as being in an “unofficial state of emergency,” shaped by close ties between political power and dominant media families.
The report points to the influence of major business figures, noting that Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group owns more than 70 media outlets, while Gautam Adani’s acquisition of NDTV in 2022 marked a turning point in reducing mainstream media pluralism.
‘Godi media’
It also describes the rise of “godi media,” suggesting that pressure and influence are undermining independent journalism.
According to RSF, the prime minister rarely holds press conferences and selectively engages with favorable media figures, while journalists critical of the government face harassment, including coordinated online attacks.
Laws related to sedition, defamation, and anti-terrorism are frequently used to suppress reporting, while government control over advertising revenue further pressures media organizations.
The report also highlights a lack of diversity in newsrooms, with leadership largely dominated by upper-caste Hindu men, affecting representation and coverage.
It notes that India remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with two to three killed annually and many facing threats, arrests, and violence, particularly those reporting on sensitive issues or regions such as Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
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