Report says academic freedom severely restricted in India

Academic freedom in India was severely restricted between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a new report by the international network Scholars at Risk. The organization's annual "Free to Think" report placed India in its "severely restricted" category alongside Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, the West Bank, and Ukraine. The report, which documented 382 attacks on higher education communities across 59 countries and territories, cited expanded government influence over universities, restrictions on student expression, and actions against faculty as key factors. It highlighted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's use of the University Grants Commission as a primary vehicle for state influence over higher education. According to the report, India's Central government expanded its authority over higher education, influencing university governance, leadership appointments, and academic priorities. University administrators also took actions that stifled campus discourse, including dismissing faculty members, cancelling academic events, and enforcing policies restricting student expression.