Rush Hour: India ranks 151 in Press Freedom Index, Pranav Adani accused of insider trading & more

May 2, 2025 - 19:30

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India stands at 151st out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. Media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières, which has been publishing the World Press Freedom Index since 2002, said on Friday, India’s position remains in the “very serious” category despite improving marginally since 2024.

The country was ranked 159 last year. India is listed among the countries where the “concentration of media ownership in the hands of political magnates threatens media plurality”.

The index also classified the state of global press freedom as being in a “difficult situation” for the first time. A major factor contributing to the weakening of the media was economic pressure. Read on.

Why the rise of ‘godi media’ is a disaster for Indian democracy and economic growth

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has alleged that Pranav Adani, the director of several Adani Group companies, shared price-sensitive information and violated regulations that are meant to prevent insider trading, Reuters reported.

The nephew of industrialist Gautam Adani was sent a notice by SEBI in 2024 alleging that he had, in 2021, shared information about Adani Green’s acquisition of SB Energy...