India’s Academic Freedom Under Severe Pressure in 2026 as Scholars at Risk Flags University Autonomy Concerns
Academic freedom in India has come under renewed international scrutiny after Scholars at Risk’s Free to Think 2026 report highlighted concerns involving government interference, restrictions on university autonomy, cancelled academic events and disciplinary action affecting scholars and students. Separate data from the Academic Freedom Index 2026 place India in the bottom 10-20% of 179 countries and territories, with the country receiving an overall score of 0.14 for 2025 — its lowest recorded level in the index’s historical series extending back to 1900.
The two assessments measure related but different things. Scholars at Risk’s Free to Think report documents specific attacks and pressures affecting higher-education communities around the world, while the Academic Freedom Index attempts to measure the broader environment for academic freedom across five dimensions.
For students and universities, the debate reaches beyond rankings. Academic freedom affects what can be researched, what can be taught, which speakers can address campuses, how freely scholars can publish controversial findings and whether students and faculty can debate public issues without disproportionate pressure.
Academic Freedom in India 2026: Key Findings
| Indicator | Latest Finding |
| Free to Think 2026 | 382 attacks documented globally across 59 countries and territories |
| Reporting Period | July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 |
| India Concern | University autonomy and academic expression |
| Academic Freedom Index 2026 | India in bottom 10-20% globally |
| India AFI Score for 2025 | 0.14 out of 1 |
| Countries/Territories Assessed | 179 |
Free to Think 2026 Documents 382 Global Attacks
Scholars at Risk says the latest edition of its annual report documented 382 attacks or violations affecting academics, students and higher-education institutions across 59 countries and territories.
The monitoring period covered July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
The total was slightly lower than the 395 attacks documented in the previous annual cycle, although the number of countries and territories covered increased.
What Does Scholars at Risk Mean by an “Attack”?
The monitoring project covers different forms of pressure or interference affecting higher education.
Categories tracked can include:
- Violence
- Imprisonment
- Prosecution
- Loss of academic positions
- Travel restrictions
- Other restrictions affecting academic activity
India Features in the Report’s University Autonomy Concerns
Current reporting on Free to Think 2026 identifies India among countries where university autonomy has faced government or external interference.
One example cited involves Banaras Hindu University, where a speaking engagement involving scholar Kedar Mishra was reportedly cancelled after outside opposition to his participation.
The broader concern raised by academic-freedom advocates is whether universities can independently make decisions about:
- Academic speakers
- Research
- Curriculum
- Appointments
- Campus debate
IIT Gandhinagar Case Also Drew SAR Attention
Scholars at Risk separately documented a 2026 controversy involving academics connected with a school textbook chapter.
The organisation reported that a Supreme Court order initially barred three academics associated with the chapter from future publicly funded curriculum-development work.
One of them, Michel Danino, who was a guest professor at IIT Gandhinagar, also lost his faculty position.
The Supreme Court Later Modified Its Position
In May, the Court modified the earlier direction and allowed states, universities and other institutions to make independent decisions about whether the academics could participate in future curriculum projects.
The Court also removed language alleging deliberate misrepresentation after accepting explanations provided in the case.
This is important because academic-freedom controversies can evolve legally, and initial orders should not be reported as though they remained unchanged.
Delhi University Protest Restrictions Were Also Monitored
Scholars at Risk recorded a February 2026 Delhi University decision temporarily prohibiting public meetings, rallies, demonstrations and protests across campus.
The restriction followed a protest involving new UGC regulations and was justified by university authorities on law-and-order grounds.
Campus Safety and Expression Can Come Into Conflict
Universities have a legitimate responsibility to maintain:
- Safety
- Academic continuity
- Access to buildings
- Protection from violence
At the same time, academic-freedom advocates argue that broad restrictions on peaceful meetings can excessively limit student expression.
University of Hyderabad Incidents Were Also Recorded
SAR’s monitoring project documented several 2026 developments at the University of Hyderabad.
One involved student activists being detained ahead of a planned protest over educational funding.
Another concerned clashes connected with a student production of Mahesh Elkunchwar’s play Holi.
Academic Freedom Is Not the Same as Unlimited Speech
This distinction is important.
Academic freedom does not mean that:
- Every statement is immune from criticism
- Faculty can ignore professional standards
- Universities cannot enforce safety rules
- Research can disregard ethics
The principle concerns protecting legitimate research, teaching, debate and inquiry from improper interference.
What Is the Academic Freedom Index?
The Academic Freedom Index is a separate international research project associated with researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and the V-Dem Institute, with Scholars at Risk involved in the index’s original development.
The 2026 update assesses 179 countries and territories.
Five Dimensions Are Used
The index examines:
| Dimension | What It Examines |
| Freedom to Research and Teach | Whether scholars can choose research and teaching agendas without interference |
| Academic Exchange and Dissemination | Ability to communicate and publish academic ideas |
| Institutional Autonomy | University independence in academic governance |
| Campus Integrity | Freedom from politically motivated surveillance or security intrusion |
| Academic and Cultural Expression | Ability to express academic or cultural views |
India’s Academic Freedom Score Fell to 0.14
The latest dataset gives India an overall Academic Freedom Index score of 0.14 for 2025.
The comparable score was around 0.41 in 2015 and approximately 0.62 in 2013.
This indicates a substantial long-term decline according to the project’s methodology.
India Is in the Bottom 10-20% Globally
Current reporting on the 2026 index places India among the lowest 10-20% of the 179 countries and territories assessed.
The finding has generated concern among Indian academics who argue that open disagreement and independent inquiry are essential for strong universities and scientific progress.
India’s Score Is Lower Than During the Emergency Period in the Dataset
The historical dataset estimates India’s current academic-freedom level below its levels during the 1975-77 Emergency.
That comparison is striking, but it should be understood as the result of the index’s statistical historical model rather than a declaration that every aspect of modern Indian higher education is identical to conditions during the Emergency.
How Is the Index Calculated?
The Academic Freedom Index relies on expert assessments and statistical modelling.
The project uses input from thousands of country experts internationally.
Those assessments are processed through a measurement model designed to create comparable scores across countries and years.
The Index Is Not a Government Ranking
It is important for readers to understand what the ranking is and is not.
It is produced by an independent international research project.
It is not an Indian government ranking such as:
- NIRF
- NAAC accreditation
- NBA accreditation
Academic Freedom and University Quality Are Related but Not Identical
A university can have:
- Strong laboratories
- High research output
- Excellent faculty
while still facing criticism over institutional autonomy or expression.
Academic-freedom indicators therefore measure something different from conventional university rankings.
Why Does Academic Freedom Matter for Science?
Scientific progress depends on researchers being able to question existing explanations.
A researcher may need to publish findings that:
- Contradict government policy
- Challenge a popular belief
- Show that an existing technology does not work
- Reveal environmental or health risks
Research Needs Space for Disagreement
A research system where scholars fear professional consequences for unpopular findings can encourage self-censorship.
That can reduce the quality of:
- Science
- Public policy
- Social research
- Innovation
Academic Freedom Also Matters for Humanities and Social Sciences
Debates involving:
- History
- Political science
- Sociology
- Religion
- Law
- Culture
can become politically sensitive.
Universities traditionally provide spaces where competing interpretations can be evaluated through evidence and argument.
Students Are Part of Academic Freedom Too
The issue does not concern professors alone.
Students may need freedom to:
- Ask difficult questions
- Organise academic events
- Debate policies
- Conduct research
- Participate in peaceful campus discussion
But Campus Debate Requires Rules
A healthy academic environment should protect debate while preventing:
- Violence
- Threats
- Harassment
- Academic disruption
The difficult policy question is where to draw that line.
Institutional Autonomy Is Central to the Debate
A university normally needs some independence over:
- Faculty hiring
- Research priorities
- Curriculum
- Academic events
- Internal governance
Public universities also receive taxpayer funding and are subject to legal accountability.
The challenge is preserving legitimate oversight without converting regulation into political control.
Government Funding and Academic Independence Can Coexist
Public funding does not automatically mean government officials should decide every academic question.
Many strong research systems internationally combine public financing with institutional autonomy.
Why University Autonomy Matters for Global Competition
India wants its universities to compete internationally in:
- AI
- Semiconductors
- Biotechnology
- Climate science
- Quantum technology
Researchers in these areas often collaborate globally.
Academic environments can affect whether top researchers choose to:
- Join an institution
- Remain in India
- Return from overseas
Academic Freedom Can Affect Innovation
Innovation often comes from challenging established assumptions.
Researchers need to be able to say:
This existing method is wrong, inefficient or unsupported by evidence.
Without that freedom, research can become overly cautious.
Rankings Should Still Be Read Critically
No international index is perfect.
Readers should examine:
- Methodology
- Data sources
- Uncertainty
- Definitions
Criticism of an index is legitimate if it engages seriously with how the measurement is produced.
What Could Improve Academic Freedom?
Possible institutional measures include:
- Transparent appointment procedures
- Clear academic-event rules
- Protection for research independence
- Due process in faculty discipline
- Proportionate campus-security policies
- Clear protection for peaceful academic debate
Universities Also Need Internal Accountability
Academic autonomy does not mean institutions should operate without scrutiny.
Universities should remain accountable for:
- Research ethics
- Financial integrity
- Discrimination
- Academic standards
- Student safety
Academic Freedom Is Ultimately About the Quality of Knowledge
A university’s purpose is not simply to confirm existing ideas.
It should allow scholars to test them.
This requires an environment where evidence can challenge authority, tradition and even academic consensus.
Final Takeaway
Scholars at Risk’s Free to Think 2026 report has renewed scrutiny of academic freedom and university autonomy in India as part of a broader global assessment documenting 382 attacks on higher-education communities across 59 countries and territories.
Separately, the Academic Freedom Index 2026 places India in the bottom 10-20% of countries assessed and gives the country an overall 2025 score of 0.14, the lowest point in its historical series.
The findings should be reported carefully: Free to Think documents incidents and patterns, while the Academic Freedom Index uses expert-coded indicators to estimate broader conditions. They are related assessments, not the same ranking.
The larger question for Indian higher education is whether universities can combine public accountability with enough institutional and intellectual independence to support serious research, scientific disagreement and open academic debate.
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