FREE TO THINK 2024

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 Context:

The "Free to Think 2024" report by Scholars at Risk highlights some concerning trends in academic freedom globally, including in India.

Highlights of the Report

1. India’s score dropped from 0.6 points in 2013 to just 0.2 points in 2023. This is the lowest it has been since the mid-1940s. The report categorizes India as having "completely restricted" academic freedom.
2. The party in power is accused of using its influence to impose its agenda on universities. This control limits students' ability to protest and express their views freely.
3. Universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and South Asian University (SAU) have introduced strict policies against protests. JNU has prohibited protests near academic buildings, while SAU has banned protests altogether.
4. It highlighted ongoing conflicts between the central government and state governments over control of higher education. For example, in Kerala, the state government and the Union government have clashed over who should lead state universities. 

About the “Free to Think 2024” Report

1. The “Free to Think 2024” report by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project highlights a significant decline in academic freedom in India over the past decade.  
2. SAR is a network of 665 universities worldwide, including prestigious institutions like Columbia University, Duke University, and New York University.
3. The report examines academic freedom in various countries, including India, Afghanistan, China, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Russia, Turkiye, Sudan, Ukraine, the U.K., and the U.S. 

 Source: 

The Hindu