Why in News
India's academic freedom has significantly decreased, as highlighted by the latest "Free to Think 2024" report.
The report attributes this decline to political interference from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and restrictions on student protests.
Academic Freedom Index
The Academic Freedom Index measures the degree of freedom available to students and scholars in expressing ideas, conducting research, and participating in academic activities
India now ranks as “completely restricted” on this index, its lowest score since the mid-1940s.
India's score fell from 0.6 points in 2013 to 0.2 points in 2023, indicating a significant decline in academic liberties.
Who Published It
The report was published by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.
SAR is a global network of 665 universities, including prestigious institutions like Columbia University and Duke University.
The report covers multiple countries, documenting 391 attacks on higher education communities from July 2023 to June 2024.
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