India has been ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released on April 30 by Reporters Without Borders, marking a drop of six places from its 151st position in 2025.

The latest index comes amid a broader global decline in press freedom.

The journalism watchdog, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), said the average score worldwide is now at its lowest level in 25 years, with more than half of the countries assessed falling into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for journalism for the first time.

In its country assessment, RSF links the current media environment in India to developments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in power since 2014, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The report highlights rising violence against journalists, noting that India remains one of the more dangerous countries for media professionals, with an average of two to three journalists killed each year in connection with their work.

RSF also flags the growing concentration of media ownership, naming industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. It notes that the expansion of large corporate groups in the media sector, including the acquisition of NDTV, has raised concerns about the decline of plurality in mainstream media.

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Another key concern outlined in the report is the increasing political alignment of sections of the media, along with what it describes as pressure on independent journalism through structural and informal means.

On the legal front, RSF points to the use of laws related to sedition, defamation and anti-terror provisions against journalists. It states that such legal tools are being used to restrict reporting and dissent.

The report also documents online harassment and coordinated intimidation campaigns, particularly targeting journalists critical of the government.

It notes that women journalists face especially severe forms of abuse, including threats and exposure of personal information.

Economically, RSF underlines the role of government advertising as a key revenue source for media organisations, stating that both central and state governments are in a position to exert influence through advertising allocations.

The organisation further highlights a lack of diversity in newsrooms, especially in leadership roles, which it says affects editorial perspectives and coverage.

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Regionally, India ranks below several of its neighbours, including Pakistan (153), Bangladesh (152), Bhutan (150), Sri Lanka (134) and Nepal (87). China is ranked 178th.

Globally, RSF noted that 100 out of 180 countries saw a decline in their press freedom scores this year, with the legal indicator showing the sharpest deterioration.