India ranked 24th in free speech survey 

• A new global survey by the Future of Free Speech ranks India 24th out of 33 countries in terms of free speech support.
• The survey, conducted in October 2024, found that while abstract support for free speech remains strong, commitment to protecting controversial speech is eroding in many parts of the world.
• The survey revealed that more countries have seen declines rather than improvements in free speech support since 2021, with the biggest drops occurring in democratic nations like the United States, Israel, and Japan.
• Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan showed the biggest improvements, but remained at the lower end of the ranking.
• India, with a score of 62.6, was placed 24th, between South Africa and Lebanon.
• The survey found a disconnect between government restrictions and public attitudes, with 37% of Indian respondents supporting the statement that “governments should be able to prevent people” from criticising government policies.