Freedom House Report 2025: What It Says About India’s Democracy and Civil Rights

Every year, an international group called Freedom House gives a report on how free and democratic countries are. The report checks how much freedom people have to speak, vote, gather, and live safely. In the 2025 report, India has been marked as “Partly Free,” with a score of 63 out of 100. This is lower than last year’s score of 66. Many people are now talking about what this means for India’s democracy.

Let’s break down the report in simple words, so everyone can understand what’s going on.

What Does the Score Mean?

Freedom House gives two types of scores: one for Political Rights and one for Civil Liberties.

• Political Rights (31/40): This part checks if people can vote freely, how fair elections are, and if the government works in a transparent way. India got 31 out of 40 here.
• Civil Liberties (32/60): This part checks freedom of speech, internet freedom, protests, and how well minorities are treated. India got 32 out of 60.

So, the total is 63 out of 100, which puts India in the “Partly Free” category.

What Happened in India in 2024?

To understand the 2025 report better, we have to look at what happened last year. A few big things played a role:

General Elections

India had national elections in 2024. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) won 240 seats but did not get a majority on its own. Still, with the help of its alliance, the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) got 293 seats. This allowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to begin his third term in office in June 2025.

Ram Temple Inauguration

In January 2024, the Ram Mandir was opened in Ayodhya. This temple was built on a site where a mosque was taken down in 1992. The event was important to many Hindus but also raised questions about religious fairness and how minorities are treated.

These events were part of why Freedom House kept a close eye on India.

What’s Happening with Civil Liberties?

Freedom House raised a few concerns about civil liberties in India:

Press Freedom

According to another group, Reporters Without Borders, India ranks 161 out of 180 countries in press freedom. This means many Indian journalists face pressure, legal action, or even threats for reporting on certain topics.

Internet and NGOs

There have also been several internet shutdowns in states during protests or elections. Also, many non-government organizations (NGOs) say they are being restricted or denied permission to work freely, especially those who speak up against the government.

How Are Minorities Being Treated?

One major point in the report was about how India treats its minority communities, especially Muslims.

Some laws and actions are seen as unfair by human rights groups. For example, rules like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) are often linked to concerns about religious discrimination.

There have also been cases of violence or hate speech against certain communities. This is something Freedom House believes should be taken seriously.

What About Dalits and Adivasis?

The report also talked about Scheduled Castes (Dalits) and Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis). While there are laws in India to protect these communities, they still face discrimination and fewer opportunities. Many live in poor conditions and do not have access to good education, healthcare, or jobs.

This shows that more needs to be done to ensure equality for everyone, no matter their caste or background.

What’s the Global Situation?

India is not alone in this struggle. Around the world, the report says democracy is facing tough times. In 2024, 60 countries saw a drop in freedom and civil rights, while only 34 countries improved.

This marks the 19th year in a row where more countries lost freedom than gained it.

Still, as one of the biggest democracies, India’s status gets special attention. What happens here affects not just Indians but also how the world sees democracy.

Why Should We Care?

When people lose the right to speak freely or vote without fear, it affects everyone. It’s not just about politics. It’s about how safe and respected people feel in their daily lives.

Freedom House is saying that India still has many democratic values, but some parts are slipping. Fixing these issues can make the country stronger and more united.

What Can Be Done?

Here are some steps that can help improve India’s freedom score:

• Allow journalists to work freely without fear or pressure.
• Give NGOs more space to operate without unfair restrictions.
• Protect internet freedom, especially during protests or public movements.
• Make sure all communities, no matter their religion or caste, are treated fairly.
• Keep elections clean, fair, and transparent.

Final Thoughts

The Freedom House 2025 report gives us something to think about. India has always taken pride in being a democracy. But now is the time to make sure that democracy works for everyone.

People have the right to speak, protest, vote, and live without fear. These are the things that make a country truly free.

To stay updated on political news and reports like this, make sure to visit Nairaland regularly. You can also read more such updates by bookmarking Nairaland.

Whether you’re a student, parent, or working professional, Nairaland is the place to understand what’s happening in the world of politics without the stress of hard words or confusing details.

Check back often at Nairaland for simple and clear updates on India’s democracy and other political news that matter to you.