WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX, 2021

About the index:

• World Press Freedom Index, 2021 is released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

• Reporters Without Borders is a French non-governmental organisation(NGO), 

• It ranks 180 countries on the basis of freedom that is being enjoyed by journalists/ media houses to deliver true reports to the audiences.

​

India Ranking:

• This year India has ranked 142, the same place as it was in the last year. It falls from its place of 133 rank in 2016.

• The report highlights “ India is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their job properly.”

• It further added, journalists are exposed to attack, police violence, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials. 

​

India’s effort:

• After last year's report in which India stood upon the same rank,  on directions from the Cabinet Secretary, an index monitoring cell worked to improve the rankings.

• The Government of India, delegated the responsibility of the rank improvement on the Ministry of Information  and broadcasting.

• Government questions the criteria of the index and it found out that the reason of poor ranking is :

  • Internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir which went for around an year.

  • Attacks on journalists.