India’s record on press freedom remains poor. Although India’s ranking has improved slightly in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, it is still ranked 151st out of 180 countries. Last year, India’s ranking was 159th. According to the 2025 report of the Paris-based international organization ‘Reporters Without Borders’, it is at the bottom of the list, while Norway is at the top. Bhutan, Pakistan, Turkey, Palestine, China, Russia, Afghanistan, Syria and North Korea are ranked lower than India. The report said that the state of the press in the US has deteriorated after Donald Trump returned to power. The US is at 57th place in the 2025 index, while it was at 55th place last year.
According to the report, the press situation in 42 countries, home to half the world’s population, is “very serious”, where the press has almost no freedom and journalism is risky. More than 200 journalists have been killed during the ongoing war in Gaza. The report said that the Israeli army has completely destroyed several newsrooms in Gaza. More than 200 journalists have died in Gaza since the war began in 2023.
Press freedom in India is under threat for several reasons. The government and ruling parties directly or indirectly pressure the media. This includes stopping advertising funding, raids on media houses, and legal actions. Harsh laws like UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and sedition are used against journalists reporting on sensitive issues. Like Siddique Kapan arrested under UAPA in 2020, released on bail in 2022. Ajit Anjum and Sakshi Joshi: faced legal action due to sensitive reporting. Kashmiri journalists: like Fahad Shah and Asif Sultan, who were jailed under PSA (Public Safety Act). According to a 2023 report by CPJ, there were 7-10 journalists in jail in India, but the actual figure could be higher as not all cases are made public.
Journalists face threats and attacks from political groups, criminals, and corporate groups. Several journalists have also been murdered, such as the murder of Gauri Lankesh. Financial dependence on media houses and corporate ownership have limited independent reporting. The grip of big business houses on the media has reduced editorial independence. Fear and pressure cause journalists and media organisations to censor themselves, which reduces reporting on anti-government or sensitive issues.
Most media houses in India are under the control of large business groups, which work in close collaboration with the government and ruling parties. This media prioritises government and corporate interests, rather than public interests. Many media organisations adopt the practice of ‘paid news’, in which news is published in their favour by taking money from political parties or individuals. Media houses focus on sensitive and controversial issues to increase TRPs and profits, leading to neglect of public issues. Insecurity of journalists: Due to low salaries, unstable jobs, and lack of security, journalists often come under pressure and are unable to report independently.
.Courts are also subject to political and social pressures, which prevent them from actively intervening on issues of press freedom. Court procedures are lengthy, which does not provide immediate relief to journalists. In many cases, the courts do not understand the seriousness of the threat to press freedom or link it to national security. Although the Supreme Court has advocated press freedom in some cases, such as in the cases of media houses like the Indian Express and NDTV, such cases are very rare. According to organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders, dozens of journalists were in jail in India in 2024 and 2025.
That is why the Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ described India as a “dangerous” country for journalists, especially in Kashmir and Naxal-affected areas. Freedom House: In its 2024 report, India was described as a country with a “declining state of freedom”, blaming government control and censorship over the media. Media houses like BBC, Al Jazeera and The Guardian have raised questions about press freedom in India, especially regarding restrictions on reporting on sensitive issues (farmer agitation, CAA-NRC, Kashmir).
Press freedom in India is in serious jeopardy due to government pressure, corporate ownership, legal restrictions, and social intimidation. The 151st ranking shows improvement, but the situation is still worrisome. The government, courts, and society need to work together to make journalism pro-people and independent. The Supreme Court and the High Courts should play a more active role in protecting press freedom.
