During a joint appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on May 18, 2026, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked away from a question posed by Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen regarding media freedom in India.
The journalist, referencing Norway’s top ranking and India’s 157th position in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, asked why Modi does not take questions from the press. Modi, who had just highlighted India as the world’s largest democracy in his remarks, did not respond and departed with his counterpart. Indian officials later invited the journalist to a briefing.
Modi’s Media Engagement Style
Prime Minister Modi has not held a single unscripted solo press conference in India since taking office in 2014. He has participated in limited joint press interactions abroad and granted selective interviews, often described by critics as controlled or “planted.” Supporters argue this reflects a shift toward direct communication via social media, radio programs like Mann Ki Baat, and public rallies, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers. Critics, including opposition figures, label pro-government coverage as “Godi Media” (a term coined by journalist Ravish Kumar, implying “lapdog” media in a pun on Modi’s name), accusing outlets of overly favorable reporting.
Press Freedom Rankings and Criticisms
India’s press freedom ranking has fluctuated but remains low in recent RSF indices:
2026: 157th out of 180 (score 31.96, “very serious” situation).
Previous years saw positions around 150-161.
RSF cites issues including violence against journalists (averaging 2-3 killings per year linked to their work), concentrated media ownership, political alignment of outlets, online harassment, and use of laws like UAPA (anti-terrorism) for prosecutions. Several journalists, including those covering sensitive topics in Kashmir or critical of government policies, have faced prolonged detention, raids, or cases. Critics highlight cases involving Muslim journalists or outlets like NewsClick, alleging delays in trials and targeting of minorities.
Broader Context on Journalist Safety and Arrests
Independent monitors like the Committee to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Watch have documented harassment, FIRs (police complaints), and raids on critical journalists under the current regime. Cases often involve financial probes, defamation, or national security laws. Some high-profile detentions have drawn international attention, with releases on bail in certain instances. However, data shows journalists face risks from multiple actors, including political activists, criminals, and state forces across parties and regions. Claims of systematic “gangster-like” targeting specifically of Muslim journalists or engineered family threats require scrutiny, as many cases involve broader ideological or security disputes rather than religion alone.
India maintains a large, diverse private media sector with vigorous criticism of the government on many channels and digital platforms. At the same time, self-censorship, ownership concentration (including by business groups aligned with the ruling party), and advertiser pressures are acknowledged challenges by various analysts.
This incident in Oslo has revived debates on accountability, media-government relations, and how India projects its democracy internationally.
