In the 2022 edition of the press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders, India fell to 150th position, its lowest on record, out of 180 countries. In the last edition, India was ranked eight places higher, at 142. The ranking is based on a country’s performance in five broad categories: political context, legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context and safety of journalists. . Of the five, India’s ranking was lowest in the safety of journalists category (163) and highest in the legal framework category (120)

A drop to 150

The graph shows the ranking of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index 2022. India was ranked 150. Countries ranked lower than India are Sudan (151), Russia (155), Pakistan (157), Bangladesh (162) and China (175)

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Through the categories

The graph shows India’s ranking in various categories in 2022. India ranked first in the legal framework category and worst in the safety of journalists category. The definition of each category is developed at the bottom

new bottom

The graph shows India’s ranking in the Press Freedom Index. While India has consistently ranked lowest over the past few years, its ranking in 2022 has plunged to the lowest the country has ever seen

Political context

• The degree of support and respect for the autonomy of the media vis-à-vis political pressure from the state or other political actors

• The level of acceptance of a variety of journalistic approaches that meet professional standards, including politically aligned approaches and independent approaches

• The degree of support for the media in their role of holding politicians and government accountable

Legal framework

• The extent to which journalists and the media are free to work without censorship or legal sanctions

• The ability to access information without discrimination and the ability to protect sources

• The presence or absence of impunity for those responsible for acts of violence against journalists

Economic context

• Economic constraints linked to government policies (including the difficulty of creating a news media, favoritism in the allocation of state subsidies

• Economic constraints related to non-state actors (advertisers and business partners)

• Economic constraints related to media owners seeking to promote or defend their commercial interests

Sociocultural context

• Social constraints resulting from denigration and attacks on the press based on issues such as gender, class, ethnicity and religion

• Cultural constraints, including pressure on journalists not to challenge certain bastions of power or influence or not to cover certain issues

Security

Ability to gather news without the unnecessary risk of:

• Bodily harm (including murder, violence, arrest, detention and kidnapping)

• Psychological or emotional distress that may result from intimidation, coercion, harassment, surveillance, doxing (publishing personal information with malicious intent), degrading or hate speech, slander and other threats against journalists

• Professional harm resulting, for example, from the loss of one’s job, the confiscation of professional equipment, or the ransacking of facilities

Source: Reporters Without Borders

Read also: Data | State of press freedom in India