Global Free Speech Index:

• A U.S.-based think tank, The Future of Free Speech, ranked India 24th out of 33 countries in its latest survey on support for free speech.

Key Findings

• India’s Score: 62.6, placed between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8).
• Top Nations: Norway (87.9) and Denmark (87.0) lead in free speech support.

Public Perception vs. Reality:

• Majority of Indians support free speech, but 37% favor restrictions on government criticism (highest globally).
• Global assessment shows declining free speech protection in India, despite public perception of improvement.
• Democratic Backsliding: India is categorized alongside Hungary and Venezuela, where free speech laws exist but enforcement is weak.

Challenges to Free Speech in India

• Legal & Political Restrictions: Sedition Law (IPC 124A), UAPA, and IT Rules 2021 restrict dissent.
• Self-Censorship: Fear of legal action, harassment, and media pressure limit open expression.

Selective Tolerance: Free speech is curbed when it contradicts political or religious views; arrests of journalists and activists highlight inconsistencies