Silencing academia, weakening democratic space

According to the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute 2026 report, India is still classified as an “electoral autocracy”, ranking in the lower half globally. The report notes a steady decline in democratic freedoms, especially in free expression, media independence, and civil society, placing India among the “worst autocratizers”. This signals a growing dismantling of institutions and norms that support accountability and pluralism, drawing increasing international scrutiny.

The Scholars at Risk Free to Think 2024 report classifies India as having “completely restricted” academic freedom. It cites declining university autonomy linked to rising political interference, and pressure on institutions. Notably, it emphasises the systematic enforcement of a Hindu nationalist agenda within higher education, with changes to curricula, limited scholarly exploration and reduced space for intellectual dissent.