Academic Freedom in Decline: Minority Institutions Hit Hard
Mohd Naushad Khan | 24 October 2024 | Punjab Today
IN THE PAST DECADE, the democratic space for dissent has gradually shrunk both on and off campuses across India. This trend is substantiated by the fact that India has seen a significant decline in its Academic Freedom Index (AFI) over the last ten years. The 2024 AFI places India among the bottom 30 percent of evaluated countries, with a score below 0.38 out of 1. Since 2013, this decline has been particularly sharp due to increased political interference, reduced university autonomy, and a lack of robust legal protections for academic freedom.
According to the report, “The global context reflects a broader trend, with many countries experiencing similar setbacks in academic freedom, often due to rising political and social polarization. In India’s case, researchers and institutions face pressure that limits independent inquiry, affecting the quality and scope of research and teaching…”