Bengaluru, May 5: In the World Press Freedom Index 2022, India secured the 150th spot out of 180 countries. The report published by Reporter without Borders on Tuesday shows that India slid by 8 ranks from last year’s report.
The ranking of India’s neighbours like Nepal and Bhutan has increased significantly. Nepal was ranked 106 for the year 2021, but for the year 2022 it is ranked 76, a 30 rank jump. Bhutan achieved the highest rank among India’s neighbors; it is ranked 33 compared to 65 for the year 2021. Other neighbouring countries remained below the top 100. Sri Lanka was ranked 146, with a slip of 19 ranks. Afghanistan’s ranks also fell after the Taliban came in power it was ranked 156 compared to 122 in 2021. Pakistan also slipped by 12 ranks; it was ranked 157. Bangladesh was ranked 162. It slipped by 10 compared to last year’s report.
The bottom spot is held by North Korea, and the first spot is held by Denmark. China climbed 2 spots in the World Press Freedom Index 2022. It was ranked 175 compared to 177 last year. Surprisingly, Hong Kong was ranked 76 with several raids at independent media houses and of two major independent news organizations, namely, Apple Daily and Stand News.
Mexico was ranked 127 with over 660 attacks on journalists in the year 2021 which is around 2 attacks every day if we exclude the Sundays according to a press freedom group in Mexico.
Since January 2022, 1 journalist has been killed in India with a connection to his work, and 13 are in prison. The report said journalists who were critical of the government were booked under the charges of defamation, sedition, and contempt of court. The report also talked about the violence faced by journalists in India by political goons and police forces.
By Nishant Agarwalla
