The Narendra Modi government frequently posits India as a ‘Vishwaguru’ or world leader. How the world sees India is often lost in this branding exercise.

Outside India, global voices are monitoring and critiquing human rights violations in India and the rise of Hindutva. We present here monthly highlights of what a range of actors – from UN experts and civil society groups to international media and parliamentarians of many countries – are saying about the state of India’s democracy.

 Read the monthly roundup for June 1-30, 2026. International Media Reports

Omkar Khandekar and Leesha K Nair report how the “Great Nicobar Project” will transform one of the world’s most isolated islands into a major port, airport, military base and tourism hub “at the cost of its people’s identity.” The Indian government claims it will help “challenge the dominance” of China in the region, while critics question whether the promised economic and strategic benefits can have “potential negative impacts”. Environmental scholar Manish Chandi called the project an “open invitation to disaster” that threatens biodiversity and Indigenous communities. Opponents warn that up to a million trees could be cut down, while tribal lands and wildlife habitats face disruption. 

Al Jazeera, Qatar, June 10

Gurvinder Singh describes a “detect, delete and deport” policy launched by the new Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal, targeting undocumented Bangladeshi migrants, particularly Muslims. The government has set up “holding centres” to hold people, or sent them to the border to be “pushed back” into Bangladesh. Singh notes the state Chief Minister highlighting that deportations would only target “Muslim Bangladeshis”, leaving non-Muslim migrants exempt. Indian and international rights activists have called the move “completely unethical”. Elaine Pearson, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said, “even the detainees without any valid documents should be given legal representation so that no Indian citizen is wrongfully expelled from the country.” 

Financial Times, UK, June 18

Michael Stott, Andres Schipani, James Shotter explain the growing partnership between India and Israel under Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu. Their relationship is built on shared views about nationalism, security and fighting terrorism. One expert says there is an “ideological affinity” as both leaders see themselves as fighting “radical Islam”. Cooperation now includes defence, intelligence, surveillance, trade and technology. Critics argue that India is moving away from its traditional support for Palestine and “risking its position as a moral leader in the global south and its policy of........

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