India has dropped further in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, slipping six places to 157th position out of 180 countries, according to the latest rankings released by Reporters Without Borders on Thursday. The decline marks another setback for the country’s media freedom standing, as India was ranked 151st in 2025.

The latest report points to a worsening climate for press freedom worldwide, with Reporters Without Borders stating that media conditions have deteriorated in more than half of the countries assessed this year.

According to the index, neighbouring Pakistan showed slight improvement, moving up to 153rd place from 158th last year, while Norway retained the top position for the tenth consecutive year as the country with the strongest press freedom protections. At the other end of the list, Eritrea remained in last place for the third year in a row.

In its assessment of India, the organisation highlighted growing legal pressure on journalists and independent media institutions. It noted that the use of criminal defamation provisions and national security laws against members of the press has contributed to a more restrictive environment for media operations.

The report also warned that the overall global media environment is facing increasing pressure due to political interference, the weakening of independent news organisations, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies in many countries.

The United States also saw a decline in the rankings, falling to 64th place from 57th in the previous year. The watchdog linked the drop to political pressure on the media, reduced support for public broadcasters, and measures seen as hostile toward journalists.

According to Reporters Without Borders, more than half of the countries included in the index are now categorised under “difficult” or “very serious” press freedom conditions, pushing the global average to its lowest level on record.