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Source-This post on World Press Freedom Index 2024 is based on the article “India’s press freedom has rapidly declined in recent years” published in “The Hindu” on 8th May 2024.
Why in the News?
In the World Press Freedom Index 2024, India is ranked 159 out of the 180 nations.
About World Press Freedom Index:
| Aspects | Description |
| About | The World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). |
| Purpose | It compares the level of freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories. |
| Methodology | RSF evaluates countries based on various indicators related to press freedom. These indicators include- a) media independence b) legal framework c) safety of journalists |
| Indicators | The ranking is based on five Indicators- Political, legislative, economic, sociocultural and safety of journalists. |
Findings of World Press Freedom Index 2024:
1. India’s Press Freedom Ranking: India is ranked 159th in the 2024. It was ranked 161st in the 2023. This ranking places India alongside nations like the occupied Palestinian territories, UAE, Turkey, and Russia, indicating poor press freedom.
2. India’s past performance: India has consistently ranked over 100 since 2003, showing a long-term trend of limited press freedom. The country’s press freedom situation has deteriorated rapidly in recent years.
3. Global Comparisons:
a) Scandinavian countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden) top the rankings with the highest press freedom. Eritrea, Syria, and Afghanistan rank the lowest.
b) Among BRICS nations, Brazil and South Africa rank higher than India, whereas China and Russia are lower. In South Asia, India ranks lower than all countries except Bangladesh.
4. Global Trends: The global trend shows a decline in press freedom, with an average drop of 7.6 points worldwide, accompanied by an increase in political repression of journalists and media.
a) Press freedom remains robust primarily in European Union countries, which recently implemented their first media freedom law (EMFA). In contrast, the Maghreb and Middle East regions face the most severe government-imposed press restrictions.
b) Bhutan, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan have seen significant declines in press freedom since 2019 whereas Central African Republic, Timor-Leste, and Montenegro have shown notable improvements.
Read more: World Press Freedom Index 2023
UPSC Syllabus: Index and reports
