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New Delhi: Freedom House’s 2026 edition of Freedom in the World report, “The Growing Shadow of Autocracy,” presents a sobering account of the state of political rights and civil liberties around the world. The report finds that global freedom has declined for the 20th consecutive year, with 54 countries experiencing a degradation of civil rights over the past year, and freedom media, personal expression, and due process facing substantive setbacks. This concerning trend emphasises the steady erosion of democratic safeguards worldwide, and comes in the wake of a politically tumultuous year, rife with violent and armed conflicts, human rights violations, coups d’état, extrajudicial persecution of dissidents, and insidious attempts at undermining the rule of law. 

Fewer Democratising States, More Autocrats, Photo: Freedom House, “Freedom in the World 2026: The Growing Shadow of Autocracy.”

As per the report, “Since 2005, Partly Free countries have been much less likely to consolidate their democracies and much more likely to experience substantial deterioration in freedoms.”

The report evaluates the state of freedom in 195 countries and 13 territories by grouping indicators into two categories- political rights (0-40) and civil liberties (0-60), whose totals are used to determine whether a country is “Free,” “Partly Free,” or “Not Free.”

Over the last 20 years, 19 “Partly Free” countries have dropped to “Not Free.” India, which continues to be classified as “Partly Free,” holds a score of 62 out of 100 in 2026, one point lower than the previous year, reflecting enduring democratic struggles and heightening concerns over the nature of civil liberties and rights afforded to citizens. 

India’s score in comparison to other countries, Photo: Freedom House, “Freedom in the World 2026: The Growing Shadow of Autocracy.”

Although India persists as a multiparty democracy – constitutionally enshrining values like liberty, equality, and justice – an advent of discriminatory policies and the mounting persecution of minority groups like Muslims has brought India’s status as a free country into question. The report notes that harassment of journalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government critics, and political opponents has significantly increased under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, while marginalised groups like Muslims, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes continue to remain economically and socially disadvantaged. 

There has been a sustained long-term drop in........

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