Reports IndicesThursday, 17 September 2026·The Hindu - National
India’s academic freedom index falls to 0.14 in 2026, SAR report says
Scholars at Risk’s Free to Think 2026 report said India’s Academic Freedom Index fell to 0.14 in 2026 and remained in the severely restricted category.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In 2026, Scholars at Risk’s Free to Think 2026 report said India’s Academic Freedom Index fell from 0.16 in 2024 to 0.14 in 2026, placing it in the “severely restricted” category.
Key specifics
- SAR was founded in 1999 at the University of Chicago.
- The network is headquartered at New York University and includes over 650 universities and organisations across 40 countries.
- India’s AFI score fell from 0.16 in 2024 to 0.14 in 2026.
- The report recorded 382 attacks from 321 verified incidents in 59 countries and territories between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
- India accounted for 42 cases, the highest number of attacks in the report.
Exam lens
Reports and indices question, Academic Freedom Index, 0 to 1 scale, 0.16 to 0.14 decline and 42 cases are the key facts; TNPSC may ask which country topped the attack count and what category India fell into.