India ranks 159th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, highlighting persistent challenges faced by journalists in the country despite a slight improvement from its previous rank of 161.
India trails behind its neighboring nations Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which hold the 152nd and 150th positions, respectively.
The Asia-Pacific region ranks as the world's second most challenging area for journalism, with countries like Myanmar, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan being among the most dangerous for media personnel.
This underscores the pervasive challenge to press freedom in the region, with no Asian country making it to the Index's top 15.