In Brief:
- India has been classified under the "severely restricted" academic freedom tier due to increased government involvement impacting higher education institutions and student expression.
- The country shares the "severely restricted" status alongside territories like Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, West Bank, and Ukraine, while remaining ranked above "completely restricted" nations.
- The lowest tier of "completely restricted" academic freedom includes Afghanistan, China, Russia, Syria, Gaza, and Iran.
In a concerning assessment of higher education, the global network Scholars at Risk released a report placing India in the "severely restricted" category for academic freedom. The findings highlight escalating government intervention across Indian universities, which researchers noted has significantly eroded institutional autonomy, compromised governance, and suppressed open expression on campuses. While India remains positioned above the "completely restricted" category—which features nations such as China, Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, Gaza, and Iran—it shares its current status alongside Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, the West Bank, and Ukraine.
