Press freedom in India and world index: Assessment or bias?

Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders released its first World Press Freedom Index report in the year 2002. The number of print publications in India have increased over two-and-a-half times between 2002 and 2026. However, during the same period. The number of print publications in the UK halved. Obviously, media became more decentralised in India but that in the UK consolidated in limited hands. As is known, decentralisation means more freedom. Still, this year’s World Press Freedom Index places India at 157th position and the UK at 18th. This makes one wonder if RSF and its rankings consider consolidation as freedom. Is the World Press Freedom Index truly an assessment or a tool to create bias against emerging economies?