India ranks 157 as global press freedom hits 25-year low

India has been ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which noted that global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years. The report flagged India as being at the forefront of the criminalisation of journalism, citing misuse of legal provisions, including national security laws, to curb reporting.
The index observed that press freedom conditions have deteriorated worldwide, with more than half of the countries now placed under “difficult” or “very serious” categories. The legal indicator, which assesses how laws protect or restrict press freedom, recorded the sharpest decline this year, with over 60 per cent of countries showing a drop between 2025 and 2026.
India figures among countries witnessing notable decline, alongside Egypt (169th), Israel (116th) and Georgia (135th). The report said criminalisation of journalism—through misuse of emergency legislation and common law– is emerging as a global trend.
India’s ranking has shown a steady decline over the past decade, slipping from 140 in 2014 to its lowest at 161 in 2023, before improving slightly to 159 in 2024 and 151 in 2025.
Globally, Norway retained the top rank for the tenth consecutive year, while Eritrea remained at the bottom. The United States dropped seven places in the latest rankings.
RSF attributed the global decline to restrictive laws, political pressure, economic influence and under-regulated digital platforms. It noted that national security legislation is increasingly used to limit reporting even in democratic systems, while safeguards for journalists remain weak or absent in over 80 per cent of countries.
RSF Editorial Director Anne Bocandé said attacks on press freedom are becoming more visible, driven by authoritarian regimes, complicit political systems and predatory economic actors. She stressed the need to end the criminalisation of journalism and strengthen protections for reporters.