India ranks 151 in World Press Freedom Index 2025; Report raises alarm over media monopoly
New Delhi: India has been ranked 151 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2025, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Friday. While the position reflects a marginal improvement from 159 in 2024 and 161 in 2023, India remains in the “very serious” category for press freedom.
The global media watchdog highlighted growing concerns over the concentration of media ownership in India, stating that political influence over news outlets continues to threaten media plurality. RSF also noted that, for the first time, global press freedom is broadly classified as being in a “difficult situation,” with economic pressures emerging as a major contributing factor.
Among its South Asian neighbours, India ranks below Nepal (90), the Maldives (104), Sri Lanka (139), and Bangladesh (149), but fares better than Bhutan (152), Pakistan (158), Myanmar (169), Afghanistan (175), and China (178). Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands top the list.
The index evaluates press freedom based on five criteria: political, economic, legislative, social, and security.
Reporters Without Borders’ Editorial Director Anne Bocandé stated that there is no free press without economic independence. “When news media are financially strained, they are drawn into a race to attract audiences at the expense of quality reporting, and can fall prey to the oligarchs and public authorities who seek to exploit them,” said Bocandé.
The report also shed light on alarming press conditions in conflict zones. In Palestine, ranked 163, RSF described the situation as “disastrous,” citing the destruction of newsrooms and the killing of nearly 200 journalists in Gaza. In Haiti (ranked 112), political instability has severely disrupted media operations.
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Two held for robbing man on knifepoint
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people have been arrested for allegedly robbing a man at knifepoint after seeking a lift on his two-wheeler, police said on Friday.
The accused, who were apprehended within a day of the complaint, are alleged to have assaulted the victim using a knife and helmet before fleeing with his vehicle, mobile phone and purse.
The victim, a manager at a Kalyana Mantapa in Nellukunte, has lodged a complaint at Chikkajala Police Station on March 26, police said.
He stated that at around 2.30 am on March 25, while heading towards Hunasamaranahalli Road for food, two unidentified persons requested a lift, which he agreed to.
"When they reached near D-Mart on Hosahalli Road, the accused asked him to stop the vehicle. Upon stopping, the accused abused him, assaulted him using a knife and helmet, and robbed his two-wheeler, mobile phone, and purse before fleeing," the release said.
During the investigation, police gathered credible leads and apprehended the two accused near Hunasamaranahalli on March 26.
"Upon interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the offence," it said.
Based on their disclosure, the stolen two-wheeler, knife, helmet, purse and a mobile phone were recovered.
The total value of the recovered property was pegged at Rs 2.20 lakh.
The accused were produced before a court on March 27 and remanded to judicial custody, police said.
