World Press Freedom Index
Topic: Democracy: Forms of Government, Principles and Outcomes · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
This is a yearly ranking of 180 countries by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), based in Paris. It measures how free journalists and the media are, using 5 indicators. It is released around 3 May, which is World Press Freedom Day. In India, press freedom is read into Art. 19(1)(a), as held in Romesh Thappar (1950) and Sakal Papers (1962).
Example
India was ranked 151st in 2025. This low rank is often cited in debates on the media as the "fourth pillar" of democracy.
Don't confuse with
- Freedom in the World: it is published by Freedom House in Washington and rates overall political rights and civil liberties, not just the press.
Related concepts
- V-Dem Democracy Report
- EIU Democracy Index
- Freedom in the World
- Electoral autocracy
- Hybrid regime
- Illiberal democracy
- Democratic backsliding