By Muslim Mirror Staff
In the latest World Press Freedom Index, India’s ranking has plummeted to 161st place, marking a concerning decline in press freedom within the country. This slip reflects ongoing challenges faced by journalists and media outlets in India, raising alarms about the state of democracy and freedom of expression in the world’s largest democracy.
The decline in India’s ranking is significant, especially considering its position just a few years ago. This drop highlights a worrying trend of deteriorating press freedom, with various factors contributing to the decline.
Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, allowing for the free flow of information and the ability of journalists to hold those in power accountable. When press freedom is restricted, it undermines democracy and threatens the rights of citizens to access unbiased information.
India slipped further to 161st position in the World Press Freedom Index from last year’s 150 rank out of 180 countries, a report by a global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said on Wednesday. In 2021, India was ranked 142.
Except for Bangladesh (163), Myanmar (173) and China (179), all other neighbours have a better rank than India — Bhutan (90), Nepal (95), Sri Lanka (135), Pakistan (150), Afghanistan (152).
Interestingly, according to the index released on World Press Day, Pakistan and Afghanistan have improved their rankings from 2022 from 157 and 156 respectively.
The ranking is based on five categories — political, legislative, economic, sociocultural and safety of journalists. India was positioned 169 in political indicators while it was 144 in legislative, 155 in economic, 143 social indicators and 172 in safety of journalists.
Moreover, the rise of digital censorship poses a new threat to press freedom in India. With the increasing use of social media and online platforms for news dissemination, there has been a growing trend of online censorship and surveillance. Social media platforms are under pressure to censor content deemed critical of the government, leading to self-censorship among journalists and a narrowing of the online space for free expression.
While India’s decline in press freedom is alarming, there are some positive developments in the region. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have seen improvements in their press freedom rankings, with Pakistan rising to 150th place and Afghanistan to 152nd. These improvements are noteworthy given the challenging environments for journalists in both countries, including threats from extremist groups and government censorship. ( With Agencies Inputs )