India's Academic Freedom Severely Restricted, Says SAR Report

India's Academic Freedom Index score fell from 0.16 in 2024 to 0.14 in 2026, placing it in the 'severely restricted' category in Scholars at Risk's report.

The report documented 42 attacks in India out of 382 verified incidents globally, highlighting central government influence over university governance and appointments.

Documented incidents included the Supreme Court imposing a life ban on three academics over NCERT textbook contents and the termination of a South Asian University professor.