Authorities continue to use sedition and criminal defamation laws to prosecute citizens who criticise government officials or oppose state policies. In a blow to free speech, the government in 2016 argued before the Supreme Court in favour of retaining criminal penalties for defamation. The court upheld the law.
Human Rights Watch
16 January 2017
In the 27 cases of journalists murdered for their work in India since CPJ began keeping records in 1992, there have been no convictions. More than half of those killed reported regularly on corruption. The cases of Jagendra Singh, Umesh Rajput, and Akshay Singh, who died between 2011 and 2015, show how small-town journalists face greater risk in their reporting than those from larger outlets, and how India's culture of impunity is leaving the country's press vulnerable to threats and attacks
Committee to Protect Journalists
30 August 2016
The government uses draconian laws such as the sedition provisions of the penal code, the criminal defamation law, and laws dealing with hate speech to silence dissent. These laws are vaguely worded, overly broad, and prone to misuse, and have been repeatedly used for political purposes against critics at the national and state level.
Human Rights Watch
25 May 2016
Authorities banned a documentary that chronicled the 2012 gang rape and death of a medical student in Delhi.
Freedom House
23 April 2016
Over one million rally to protect net neutrality
Freedom House
31 October 2015
Despite its Constitutional commitment to free speech, India’s legal system makes it surprisingly easy to silence others. Routine corruption, inefficiency, and the selective enforcement of vague and overbroad laws allow individuals, or small groups, to censor opinions they find distasteful. - See more at: http://www.pen-international.org/the-india-report-executive-summary-and-key-findings/#sthash.TIIM2xbu.dpuf
PEN International, PEN Canada
20 May 2015
Ranked 80th in annual global media freedom report
Freedom House
1 May 2015
The media in Tripura is still dependent on the government for financial help, giving them an unprecedented upper hand to control press freedom in the state. As long as the political party in power is satisfied, the media is deemed to be okay otherwise there is an incredible pressure on the journalists as they have to not only endure insults but also face demotion in rank as well as being refused accreditation. - See more at: https://samsn.ifj.org/media-in-north-eastern-state-of-tripura/#sthash.0GypROMb.dpuf
International Federation of Journalists
2 April 2015
Ranked 78th in annual global media freedom report
Freedom House
2 May 2014
Real-time digital surveillance system launched
Freedom House
1 May 2014
"Big Brother up and running"
Reporters Without Borders
13 March 2014
"Press is stifled by state-employed surveillance tactics"
Committee to Protect Journalists
11 February 2014
Ranked 140th in annual press freedom index
Reporters Without Borders
1 February 2014
System to monitor mobile phone and internet communications introduced
Human Rights Watch
22 January 2014
Index on Censorship
21 November 2013
"The government has used security laws, criminal defamation legislation, hate-speech laws, and contempt-of-court charges to curb critical voices"
Freedom House
16 January 2013
"One of the worst countries in the world at combating deadly anti-press violence"
Committee to Protect Journalists
22 February 2012
Threats from mafia groups lead to a climate of self-censorship
Reporters Without Borders
25 January 2012
"At least 12 RTI activists have been killed and several others assaulted over the past two years"
Human Rights Watch
22 January 2012