World Press Freedom Index 2022:
On the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) (3rd May), the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
- India ranked 150th among the 180 countries.
- The report reveals a two-fold increase in “polarisation” amplified by information chaos, that is, media polarisation fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level.
Ranking of Countries:
Top and Worst Performers:
- Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions.
- North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries.
- Russia was placed at 155th position.
- Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
- The index placed Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Myanmar at 176th position.
- China was ranked at 175th position.
Performance of India:
- India has fallen eight places from 142nd to 150th in the 2022 among the 180 countries.
- India’s position has been consistently falling in the index since 2016 when it was ranked 133.
- The reasons behind fall in ranking is the increased “violence against journalists” and a “politically partisan media”.
World Press Freedom Index:
- The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
- The day also marks the 1991 Windhoek Declaration (adopted by UNESCO).
- It aimed towards the ‘development of a free, independent and pluralistic press’.
- Theme for 2022:Journalism under digital siege
