World Press Freedom Index 2022: India ranked 150th

Highlights:

• Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released the 20th World Press Freedom Index 2022, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories. 
• The Index highlights the disastrous effects of news and information chaos - the effects of a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.
• India’s ranking in the Index has fallen down to 150th position from last year’s 142nd rank.
• The ranking of India’s neighbours, except that of Nepal, has also slid down, with the index placing. 
• Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
• Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar at 176th position.
• Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories.
• Russia was placed at 155th position, down from 150th last year, while China climbed up by two positions with the Reporters Without Borders placing it at 175th position. Last year, China was placed at 177th position.
• The invasion of Ukraine (106th) by Russia (155th) at the end of February reflects this process, as the physical conflict was preceded by a propaganda war.