In the world's largest democracy, a free press is considered a cornerstone of its democratic identity. India has historically boasted a vibrant media landscape, often hailed for its fierce independence, regional diversity, and willingness to challenge authority. However, in recent years, a disturbing trend has emerged: the systematic erosion of journalistic freedom, the weaponization of media for state propaganda, and an explosion of misinformation across mainstream and digital platforms. This shift has profound implications for democratic discourse, civil liberties, and the health of Indian society as a whole.
This article explores how India's media is increasingly under threat—pressured by government influence, driven by corporate interests, and plagued by a growing ecosystem of disinformation and propaganda.
The Shrinking Space for Independent Journalism
India’s press freedom rankings have been steadily declining. In the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), India ranked 159 out of 180 countries, its worst performance to date. The decline is attributed to rising violence against journalists, legal harassment, censorship, and the use of surveillance technology.
Independent media outlets and investigative journalists now operate under constant threat. Critical voices are frequently silenced through legal intimidation—such as sedition, defamation, or anti-terror charges—or through economic means, such as the withdrawal of government advertising. Journalists like Rana Ayyub, Siddique Kappan, and Mohammed Zubair have become high-profile targets, facing relentless attacks both online and offline.
In Kashmir, the situation is even more dire. Local media faces intense scrutiny, with journalists regularly summoned by police, harassed, and detained under draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The climate of fear has led many to self-censor or abandon journalism altogether.
Government Influence and the Rise of "Godi Media"
The term “Godi Media” (literally “lapdog media”) was popularized by journalist Ravish Kumar to describe pro-government news channels that have relinquished editorial independence in favor of state-sponsored narratives. Channels such as Republic TV, Times Now, and Zee News have become notorious for their aggressive promotion of nationalist rhetoric and their hostility toward dissent.
These channels often function more as megaphones for government propaganda than as neutral reporters of fact. They downplay uncomfortable truths—such as economic distress, communal violence, or caste discrimination—while inflating stories that align with the ruling party's political objectives, particularly those that appeal to Hindu nationalist sentiments.
A case in point was the Delhi riots of 2020, where several channels uncritically parroted the government’s line blaming anti-CAA protestors, despite independent investigations revealing coordinated attacks by right-wing mobs. Similarly, during the COVID-19 crisis, mainstream media was slow to question the government’s inadequate pandemic response, focusing instead on trivial distractions or blaming minorities for viral spread.
Misinformation and the Social Media War Zone
India is also a battleground for digital disinformation, often amplified by political parties and their IT cells. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in particular, has been accused of running one of the world’s most sophisticated social media operations, using fake accounts, trolls, and WhatsApp groups to shape public opinion and smear opponents.
A 2018 report by Oxford Internet Institute found that India had one of the largest organized networks of political disinformation. WhatsApp, with over 500 million users in India, has become a major platform for viral fake news—sometimes with deadly consequences. Mob lynchings, often sparked by false rumors about child kidnapping or beef consumption, have claimed dozens of lives since 2015.
Misinformation is also used to demonize minorities, especially Muslims, portraying them as threats to national security or public health. During the pandemic, the Tablighi Jamaat event was widely misrepresented, and fake videos circulated purporting to show Muslims intentionally spreading the virus. The term “Corona Jihad” trended across platforms, inciting hatred and discrimination.
Despite these threats, fact-checking organizations in India face uphill battles. While platforms like Alt News and Boom Live work tirelessly to debunk falsehoods, they are outnumbered and often threatened themselves.
Corporate Control and Conflict of Interest
The concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few powerful business conglomerates further limits the press’s independence. Major news outlets are now owned by corporations with strong political and financial ties to the ruling elite.
For instance, Reliance Industries, one of India’s largest conglomerates, owns Network18, a media house that operates several news channels and digital platforms. The conflict of interest is glaring: how can a media outlet owned by a major corporate player, which profits from government contracts, hold that same government accountable?
Even The Times Group and Bennett Coleman & Co., publishers of the Times of India, have shown increasing signs of editorial submission to political and corporate pressures. Investigative journalism is often spiked or buried. The result is an ecosystem where only state-sanctioned narratives flourish, while stories of corruption, inequality, or injustice are systematically sidelined.
Legal and Extra-Legal Harassment of Journalists
The use of laws as weapons to silence journalists has become alarmingly common. Laws intended to protect national security or public order—such as the UAPA, Sedition Law (IPC 124A), and Information Technology Act—are routinely misused.
According to the Press Freedom Report by Rights and Risks Analysis Group, at least 55 journalists were targeted for their work during 2023 alone. Many were arrested without warrants, had their electronic devices seized, or were subjected to invasive surveillance. The Pegasus spyware scandal revealed that several Indian journalists were among those whose phones were infected, raising serious concerns about state-sponsored snooping.
In parallel, journalists and media houses are frequently slapped with Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These are defamation or civil lawsuits filed by powerful entities to drain resources and silence investigative reporting.
Beyond legal harassment, there's also a rising trend of physical threats and mob violence. Journalists reporting on sensitive topics—land rights, environmental violations, caste atrocities—especially in rural areas, risk assault or even death.
Role of the Judiciary and Democratic Institutions
India’s judiciary, once a bastion of free speech, has shown a mixed response to the growing media crisis. While courts have occasionally intervened to protect press freedom—as in the release of some arrested journalists—they have also been criticized for inaction or for entertaining frivolous cases that stifle dissent.
Institutions like the Press Council of India, intended to uphold journalistic ethics, have largely remained toothless. The government has also introduced new rules under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, which give it sweeping powers to block online content, monitor digital media, and demand traceability on messaging platforms. These rules have raised serious concerns among global rights organizations about censorship and overreach.
Resistance and Hope: The Battle for Truth
Despite the repression, pockets of resistance persist. Independent outlets like The Wire, Scroll.in, The Caravan, and Article 14 continue to produce hard-hitting investigative journalism, often at great personal and financial cost. Freelance journalists and citizen reporters are using digital platforms to amplify voices from the margins.
In addition, civil society organizations, media watchdogs, and global advocacy groups are speaking out. International pressure, diplomatic dialogue, and solidarity among journalists are essential in holding power to account and preserving the democratic essence of a free press.
Conclusion
India’s media is facing a moment of reckoning. The dangerous combination of state influence, corporate control, disinformation, and legal intimidation threatens not just journalists, but democracy itself. A press that cannot question power or expose injustice ceases to be a pillar of democracy and becomes instead its hollow shell.
To reclaim its status as the world’s largest democracy in substance and not just in size, India must protect the independence of its media. This includes repealing draconian laws, ensuring editorial autonomy, regulating media ownership, and fostering digital literacy to combat misinformation.
Freedom of the press is not merely a right of journalists—it is the public’s right to know, to question, and to speak. When this right is under threat, so is the future of the natonal.
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