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India drops in global academic freedom rankings
The report paints a troubling picture of academic freedom in India, raising serious concerns over the country’s democratic and educational institutions.
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Bhavana P - Fri, 18, Apr 2025
- 15:57 EDT
- 173
Representative image / Image - Unsplash
India’s Academic Freedom Index (AFI), dropped reflecting a sharp deterioration in academic freedom in the country.
The report shows India’s score fell from 0.38 in 2022 to 0.16, placing it in the bottom 10–20 percent worldwide.
Also read: The cost of straight A's
Published by the V-Dem Institute, the AFI assesses countries on factors such as freedom to research and teach, academic exchange, institutional autonomy, campus integrity, and academic and cultural expression. India was among 34 countries identified as having undergone a statistically significant and meaningful decline in academic freedom over the last decade.
The report highlights the role of anti-pluralist parties in eroding academic environments. These parties, it states, often disregard democratic principles, suppress dissent, and limit public discourse, leading to widespread restrictions in academic institutions.
“The analysis shows that countries with anti-pluralist parties in government have lower levels of academic freedom than those where anti-pluralist parties have little-to-no political influence,” the report stated.
Among its South Asian neighbors, India performed poorly—ranking just above China. Bangladesh shared the same bottom bracket, while Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan ranked in the 30–40 percent range and Sri Lanka in the 40–50 percent bracket.
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