India’s Free Speech Ranking in Global Index

A recent global survey by the U.S.-based think tank The Future of Free Speech ranked India 24th out of 33 countries in its Free Speech Index. The survey, conducted in October 2024, found that although free speech support in India has declined since 2021, a majority of Indians believe it has improved. The report, titled “Who in the World Supports Free Speech?”, highlights the gap between public perception and actual protections for free speech in India, alongside broader global trends showing democratic backsliding in various nations.

Key Findings on India

• Ranking & Score: India ranked 24th out of 33 countries, scoring 62.6, placing it between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8).
• Public Perception vs. Reality: Indians believe free speech has improved, but global rankings and observations suggest a decline.

Support for Free Speech

• Majority of Indians value the right to free speech without government censorship.
• However, support for criticism of government policies is below the global average.

Attitude Toward Government Criticism

• 37% of Indians agreed that the government should be able to prevent criticism of its policies (highest among all surveyed nations).
• In comparison, only 5% in the U.K. and 3% in Denmark held similar views.

India’s Exception in Global Trends

• Normally, countries with high free speech support enjoy greater freedom.
• India, along with Hungary and Venezuela, deviates from this trend, experiencing low free speech protections despite significant public support.

Global Context

• Norway (87.9) and Denmark (87.0) ranked highest in free speech support.
• Indonesia (56.8), Malaysia (55.4), and Pakistan (57.0) showed the biggest improvements, though they remained in lower rankings.

Declining Free Speech Support Globally

• Free speech support has declined in many nations since 2021.
• Major drops observed in democratic countries like the United States, Israel, and Japan.

Global Perspective on Free Speech

• Scandinavia leads with the highest scores.
• Hungary (85.5) and Venezuela (81.8) scored high despite government restrictions, showing a gap between laws and public attitudes.
• Free speech is not just a legal right but also depends on a culture of open debate and tolerance for dissent.
• Without public commitment, legal protections may become ineffective, warned Jacob Mchangama, executive director of The Future of Free Speech.