In India, the press has always been termed the fourth pillar of democracy because of its extremely vital role in strengthening the democratic fabric. This is why press freedom is considered essential for a healthy and robust democracy. However, it is an irony that for the past few years, a continuous decline in press freedom has been observed here as well. This is precisely why 'World Press Freedom Day' is celebrated every year on May 3.
The pen is considered mightier than the sword and more effective than its sharp edge because it is due to its vigilance that major scams have been exposed—not only in India but in many countries over the last few decades—forcing big industrialists, politicians, and stalwarts of various fields to fall from grace in a single stroke. This is the reason why, from time to time, conspiracies have been hatched to blunt or break this weapon of the pen. On various occasions, journalists across the globe, including India, have had to pay the price of truth with their lives. In recent decades, the conditions surrounding press freedom have changed significantly. Today, journalists worldwide face maximum threats from political, criminal, and terrorist groups, and India is no exception to this. Paradoxically, fear and tension have increased in newsrooms globally due to both government and private entities.
The facts presented annually by the Paris-based organization 'Reporters Sans Frontières' (RSF), or 'Reporters Without Borders', regarding press freedom are always startling. Although, it is a different matter that some countries dismiss the data in these reports as being motivated by bias. Reporters Without Borders is a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and combating attacks on journalists worldwide and presenting an annual report titled the 'World Press Freedom Index'.
In the 'World Press Freedom Index 2019', the organization analyzed the state of press freedom in various countries, including India, clarifying how hatred against journalists worldwide has turned into violence, increasing fear among them. According to the World Press Freedom Index 2026, India has slipped to the 157th position out of 180 countries, whereas it was at the 151st position in 2025—marking a drop of six places in a single year. Prior to this, India stood at 159th in 2024, 161st in 2023, and 150th in 2022. This report indicates a continuous decline in India's ranking for press freedom. According to the report, while the number of countries considered 'satisfactory' in their treatment of journalists is increasing, the number of places where the situation is 'very serious' is also significant.
In the press freedom rankings released by Reporters Without Borders, while India climbed two spots in 2024 compared to 2023, it had fallen 11 spots in 2023 compared to 2022, and 8 spots in 2022 compared to 2021. In the 2021 ranking, India was at 142nd place. Norway tops the list in the World Press Freedom Index 2026. India's democracy is called the world's largest and most successful; however, if a small country like Norway consistently holds the top position in press freedom, and almost all of India's neighbors except China are in a better position, then this is not an ideal situation for a vast democratic nation like India. In such a scenario, we need to seriously introspect: why are we slipping year after year? This decline in press freedom is not a good sign for a healthy democracy.
The direct and clear implication of the decline in press freedom is that the right to freedom of expression, which is inherent in the fundamental spirit of democracy, is gradually diminishing. Media has had a massive contribution to society, which is why it is considered the strong fourth pillar of democracy. However, in recent years, the way the electronic media in particular creates a "whirlwind of lies" just to increase their TRP—without verifying information—makes it seem at times as if one is watching a spicy political film rather than a news program. The biggest casualty of this is that public trust in the media is continuously eroding. Consequently, people are gravitating toward social media, where "fake news" is already a major problem, and AI is contributing significantly to exacerbating this issue.
The Indian Constitution does not grant separate freedom to the press; rather, its freedom is inherent in the freedom of speech and expression of the citizens. This freedom can be restricted if the unity and integrity of the country are at stake. However, journalism becoming increasingly challenging even in the absence of such conditions is by no means in the interest of democracy; rather, it is clearly seen as an attempt by certain forces to demolish the fourth pillar of the democratic system. One can imagine: if press freedom remains under such scrutiny, how will journalists continue to perform their work with transparency? How will it be possible to uncover the truth and deliver it to the public in an impartial manner if efforts to obstruct press freedom persist?
To ensure that press freedom remains intact in the country, there is a dire need for strict laws regarding the safety of journalists, whether they are associated with media houses or are independent, so that they can fulfill their duties perfectly without any pressure or fear. However, it is also extremely vital that the 'Press'—the fourth pillar of democracy—uses its freedom correctly while remaining mindful of its own boundaries and dignities.

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