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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India’s Press Freedom Ranking in 2025