Reporters Without Borders released the
World Press Freedom Index on 30 April 2026
¨
Reporters Without Borders
released the World Press Freedom Index on 30 April 2026.
¨
India ranked 157th out of
180 countries.
¨
India was placed in the
“Very Serious” category for press freedom.
¨
It dropped 6 places
compared to its 2025 rank (151).
¨
The index is an annual
assessment prepared by RSF.
¨
It evaluates press
freedom across 180 countries and territories.
Key parameters include
¨
Pluralism
¨
Media independence
¨
Media environment
¨
Self-censorship
¨
Legal framework
¨
Transparency
¨
Safety
India’s recent rankings
¨
2024: 159th
¨
2025: 151st
¨
2026: 157th
Key reasons highlighted in the 2026 report
¨
Violence against
journalists
¨
Concentration of media
ownership
¨
Politically influenced
media outlets
¨ Judicial harassment of independent media
¨ Use of defamation and national security laws against journalists
