Media associations in the country have expressed concern over India dropping 11 places to 161st in the 2023 press freedom index, which was published on Wednesday.
Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released their annual report on press freedom around the world, ranking India at 150 out of 180 countries last year.
The RSF report noted that the situation has worsened in three other countries: Tajikistan (down 1 to 153rd), India (down 11 to 161st), and Turkey (down 16 to 165th).
Another issue highlighted in the report is the acquisition of media outlets by individuals with close ties to political leaders, which severely restricts the free flow of information.
The Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India, and the Press Association issued a joint statement condemning the decline in India’s press freedom ranking.
The joint statement also mentioned that press freedom has deteriorated in several countries, including India, according to the latest RSF report.
The statement emphasized the crucial role of the media in developing democracies with existing inequalities, and called for the challenges faced by journalists, such as insecure working conditions and contractorization, to be addressed to ensure a free press.
