India Placed in ‘Highly Restricted’ Category in ‘Free to Think 2026’ Report; Concerns Raised Over Academic Freedom
The ‘Free to Think 2026’ report by Scholars at Risk (SAR) has placed India in the “Highly Restricted” category and documented 382 attacks on higher education communities across 59 countries. Using the Academic Freedom Index, the report assesses dimensions such as research and teaching, academic expression, institutional autonomy, campus integrity, and the dissemination of knowledge. Regarding India, the report highlights issues concerning university autonomy, appointments, curriculum, research, student expression, and campus protests. The report's findings underscore the importance of academic freedom and the need to safeguard independent research, expression, and institutional autonomy.
India has been placed in the “Highly Restricted” category in the ‘Free to Think 2026’ report by the international organization Scholars at Risk (SAR). The report documents 382 attacks on higher education communities across 59 countries and territories between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. According to the report, government interference and other forms of pressure regarding university autonomy, research, teaching, and freedom of expression remain matters of global concern.
Academic Freedom Index (AFI) and India:
The report also utilizes data from the Academic Freedom Index (AFI). The AFI assesses the actual state of academic freedom across 179 countries and territories. It evaluates five key dimensions: freedom of research and teaching, freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, institutional autonomy, campus integrity, and freedom of academic and cultural expression.
Concerns regarding academic freedom in India:
The SAR report highlights issues concerning institutional autonomy, curricula, appointments, research, student expression, and campus protests in Indian universities. It also notes that changes in laws, policies, and administrative procedures related to higher education could impact university autonomy. However, these are findings and assessments by Scholars at Risk; they should not be construed as the official stance of the Government of India or the judiciary.
The relationship between university autonomy and academic freedom:
Academic freedom implies that teachers and researchers can operate without undue interference in teaching, research, publication, academic discourse, and the dissemination of knowledge. Institutional autonomy is equally crucial, granting universities sufficient independence to make decisions regarding their academic functions, administration, and research activities. According to SAR, a curtailment of university autonomy can adversely affect academic freedom.
Examples from India cited in the report:
The report includes cases involving specific Indian universities and academics. For instance, SAR documented a Supreme Court order dated March 11, 2026, which barred three academics—linked to a controversial textbook chapter—from participating in future publicly funded curriculum development. SAR has also recorded incidents involving student protests and issues concerning teachers in India as part of its Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.
Significance for UPSC:
This topic is relevant for GS Paper-2 (Education and Social Justice), GS Paper-1 (Society and Social Empowerment), and the Essay paper. Aspirants should familiarize themselves with concepts such as academic freedom, institutional autonomy, university governance, freedom of speech and expression, higher education regulation, and the research ecosystem. In the Indian context, this can be linked to the freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a), education-related provisions under Article 21A, the UGC, university autonomy, and the NEP 2020. Additionally, in a UPSC answer, it would be more appropriate to clearly present the findings of an international report as the assessment of the reporting body rather than as independent facts.
