India placed in severely restricted academic freedom category in global report

India has been placed in the “severely restricted” category for academic freedom in the latest Free to Think report by Scholars at Risk, which documents attacks and restrictions affecting higher education communities across the world.

The report, released on Sep 15, examined developments between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. It documented 382 attacks on higher education communities across 59 countries and territories and drew on data from the Academic Freedom Index to assess broader changes in academic freedom.

India was placed in the same category as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, the West Bank and Ukraine. The “completely restricted” category, the lowest classification in the index, includes countries and territories such as China, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Gaza.

The Academic Freedom Index, which forms part of the report's assessment, recorded a decline in India's score in recent years.

The score fell from 0.38 in 2022 to 0.14 in 2025, according to reporting on the report's findings. Scholars at Risk said restrictions on the freedom to research and teach have contributed to the decline since 2022.

Government influence and university autonomy

For India, Scholars at Risk identified greater central government involvement in university governance, leadership appointments and academic priorities as one of the developments affecting academic freedom.

The report also examined the role of the University Grants Commission in higher education policy. It raised concerns over changes to regulations and policies that, according to the organisation, could increase government influence over universities.

The report also pointed to decisions by university administrations that it said restricted academic and campus activities. These included faculty dismissals, cancellation of academic events and restrictions affecting student expression and gatherings.

Among the cases discussed were actions against faculty members at South Asian University and SRM Institute of Science and Technology, as well as developments involving Jamia Millia Islamia. The report also referred to the cancellation of academic events at Banaras Hindu University and Mumbai University.

The report further examined restrictions on campus gatherings at the University of Delhi. According to Scholars at Risk, the university temporarily imposed a broad restriction on public meetings, rallies and demonstrations before subsequently requiring advance approval for protests.

42 India-related attacks recorded

Scholars at Risk recorded 42 attacks involving scholars in India during the reporting period. These incidents fell into different categories, including loss of position, prosecution, imprisonment, violence and other forms of interference.

The report also examined clashes and confrontations involving student groups at universities. It noted that disputes over issues including politics, religion, caste, national identity, history and university policies sometimes became flashpoints for campus conflict.

Some incidents also involved police intervention during student protests. The report cited cases at Osmania University and in Rajasthan while discussing the broader pressure faced by students and academic communities.

The report's India chapter also refers to restrictions affecting academic material and curriculum-related work. It discusses the controversy surrounding a social science textbook developed with the involvement of NCERT and subsequent court proceedings involving academics associated with the project. It also records the Jammu and Kashmir government's action against the sale, distribution and possession of 25 books dealing with the region's political and social history.

Academic freedom declines globally

The India findings form part of a wider deterioration identified by the report. The 2026 Academic Freedom Index found significant declines in academic freedom in 50 of 179 countries over the past decade, while nine countries recorded improvements during the same period.

Scholars at Risk said the global findings showed that attacks on higher education were not limited to countries traditionally associated with restrictions on academic freedom.

Its report pointed to government interference with university autonomy, restrictions on research and teaching, and measures aimed at suppressing dissent as major concerns.

The organisation's findings are based on its monitoring of attacks affecting scholars, students and higher-education institutions.