Source: TH
Context: India’s academic freedom has significantly declined over the past decade, with growing concerns over political influence and restrictions on student protests at universities. This trend has been highlighted in the “Free to Think 2024” report, which examines global academic freedom.
More about the report:
- Published by: Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, a network of 665 universities worldwide.
- India’s Rank: Slipped from 0.6 points to 0.2 points on the Academic Freedom Index from 2013 to 2023, now classified as “completely restricted,” its lowest level since the mid-1940s.
- Key Findings:
- The report covers 391 attacks on higher education in 51 countries between July 2023 and June 2024.
- Highlights political control and a Hindu nationalist agenda influencing India’s universities.
- Restrictions on student protests noted in institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and South Asian University (SAU).
The report indicates growing tensions between the Indian central and state governments over higher education control, affecting institutions in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Punjab.
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