World Press Freedom index, 2022

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Key highlights of the index-

• The index to evaluate the level of freedom available to the media in 180 countries. 
• The 20th World Press Freedom Index reveals a two-fold increase in “polarisation” amplified by information chaos, that is, media polarisation fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level.
• This year, Norway (1st), Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories ranked by the Reporters Without Borders.
• Russia was placed at 155th position, down from 150th last year, while China climbed up by two positions with the Reporters Without Borders placing it at 175th position. Last year, China was placed at 177th position.

Rankings of India & its borders-

• India’s ranking in the Index has fallen down to 150th position from last year’s 142nd rank out of 180 countries. 
• India’s ranking, as per the report, fell on the back of increased “violence against journalists” and a “politically partisan media”, which has landed press freedom in a state of “crisis” in the world’s largest democracy.
• The index says, the media in India faces pressure from “increasingly authoritarian and/or nationalist governments”.
• The ranking of India’s neighbours, except that of Nepal, have also slid down, with the index placing Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar at 176th position.
• Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position. 
• Last year, the Himalayan nation had been placed at 106th position, Pakistan at 145th, Sri Lanka 127th, Bangladesh 152nd and Myanmar at 140th position in the index.

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