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India’s Press Freedom Ranking in 2025

India’s Press Freedom Ranking in 2025

20-05-2025

Significance: GS II; Governance; Freedom of Speech;

 

Why in the News?
 

India ranked 151st out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2025, moving up from 159th in 2024 and 161st in 2023.

  • Despite this improvement, India remains in the “very serious” or “severe” category, indicating ongoing concerns about media autonomy and freedom.
  • The World Press Freedom Index is published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global media watchdog.

Key Highlights from Global Press Freedom 2025

  • Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands lead the index, benefiting from strong legal protections and a diverse, independent media.
  • Eritrea, North Korea, China, and Syria are at the bottom, where press freedom is severely restricted or absent.
  • Over half the world’s population now lives in countries classified as “red zones,” where journalism is considered “very serious” or “difficult”.
  • This category is the lowest category in the index. It means that journalists in that country face major obstacles, such as:
    • Regular government or political interference in news reporting.
    • Restrictive laws or harsh punishments for journalists.
    • High risk of threats, violence, or even death for reporting on sensitive issues.
    • Economic or social pressures that force journalists to self-censor or avoid certain topics.
    • Media ownership concentrated in the hands of a few, reducing diversity and independence.
  • India ranks lower than Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, but higher than Bhutan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and China.

What are the key challenges before Indian and Global Media?

 

  • Economic Survival vs. Editorial Independence: Many news organizations struggle to maintain editorial integrity while facing financial pressures, often leading to self-censorship or reliance on government/corporate funding.
  • Tech Giants’ Dominance: Companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon absorb a large share of advertising revenue, undermining the financial sustainability of traditional journalism.
  • Legal and Physical Threats: Journalists face lawsuits, harassment, and violence, making it difficult to report without fear.

What are the main factors affecting India’s Press Freedom Ranking?

 

  • Political Influence: Concentration of media ownership among political and corporate entities threatens diversity and independence.
    • Journalists in India face threats, violence, and intimidation, which impacts their ability to report freely.
  • Economic Pressures: Financial instability and dominance of tech giants in advertising revenue have weakened the media’s economic base.
  • Legal Challenges: Restrictive laws, criminal defamation, and regulatory hurdles limit journalistic freedom and encourage self-censorship.
  • Media Plurality: The growing monopoly of a few media houses reduces the diversity of viewpoints and increases the risk of biased reporting.

 

What are the potential measures to uphold Press Freedom in Indian Society?

  • Ensuring Journalists’ Safety: Government needs to provide more adequate security and legal support to journalists facing threats or attacks, and hold perpetrators accountable.
    • Need to provide financial assistance and regulatory support to independent media organizations to reduce their dependence on external influences.
  • Promoting Principled Journalism and Media Literacy: Promote media literacy programs to educate the public on discerning credible information from propaganda and misinformation.
    • Encourage media outlets to adhere to professional ethics and standards, fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.

 

Way Forward: India’s Ranking is up, but problems remain. In many countries, journalists are under pressure from governments, businesses, and even criminals. Many places in the world are now considered “dangerous” for journalism.

  • Press freedom needs to improve, news organizations need to be financially independent, have diverse ownership, and get better legal protection.

 

 

 

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