Indian Kashmir is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Not Free with a total score of 26/100.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
Indian Kashmir is not currently scored by the RSF World Press Freedom Index or by the V-Dem Freedom of Expression project; the profile relies on Freedom House and World Bank indicators below. Of the 25 Freedom House indicators, Indian Kashmir earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 5 at 0/4; its strongest category is Personal Autonomy (7/16) and its weakest is Electoral Process (1/12).
Composite index comparison
Elections, political pluralism, government functioning.
Freedom of expression, association, rule of law, personal autonomy.
Democratic Rights & Civil Liberties
Freedom status explained
Freedom House classifies Indian Kashmir as Not Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 26/100 — basic political rights and civil liberties are widely denied.
Within Freedom House's Asia region (43 countries), Indian Kashmir ranks #35 on the latest aggregate score — the 19th percentile. The region leaders are New Zealand, Japan, Australia.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 6 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 5 of 7 (1 = best)
Civil liberties are rated higher than political rights — everyday freedoms are better protected than the formal political framework (elections, pluralism, government functioning).
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved Indian Kashmir from Partly Free (Partly Free, 49/100) to Not Free (Not Free, 26/100).
Status transitions
Freedom House records 1 status transition for Indian Kashmir between 2020 and 2020 — each row below marks the year the classification flipped between Free, Partly Free, and Not Free.
| Year | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Partly Free | → | Not Free |
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for Indian Kashmir, 16 moved at least one point across the available Freedom House history. The eight with the largest absolute change appear below.
| Code | Indicator | Earliest | Latest | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Free and fair head-of-government elections | 3/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -3 |
| A2 | Free and fair legislative elections | 3/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -3 |
| B2 | Opposition can gain power | 3/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| B3 | Free political choice | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| C1 | Elected officials govern | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| E1 | Freedom of assembly | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| A3 | Electoral framework | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| B1 | Right to organise in political parties | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
Latest A–G indicator scorecard
Electoral Process
PR
-
A1Free and fair head-of-government elections
0/4
-
A2Free and fair legislative elections
0/4
-
A3Electoral laws and framework
1/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
1/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
1/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
0/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
1/4
Functioning of Government
PR
-
C1Elected officials determine government policy
0/4
-
C2Safeguards against corruption
1/4
-
C3Transparency of government
1/4
Freedom of Expression & Belief
CL
-
D1Free and independent media
1/4
-
D2Freedom of religious expression
2/4
-
D3Academic freedom
1/4
-
D4Free private discussion
2/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
0/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
1/4
-
E3Free trade unions
2/4
Rule of Law
CL
-
F1Independent judiciary
1/4
-
F2Due process in civil and criminal matters
1/4
-
F3Protection from illegitimate force
1/4
-
F4Equal treatment under the law
1/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
1/4
-
G2Property rights
2/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
2/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
2/4
Each indicator is scored 0–4 by Freedom House analysts; category subtotals combine into the Political Rights (A + B + C = 0–40) and Civil Liberties (D + E + F + G = 0–60) aggregates shown above. 2024 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Indian Kashmir changed Freedom House classification in the last 12 years?
Yes — Freedom House reclassified Indian Kashmir from Partly Free to Not Free in 2020, and the classification has held since.
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in Indian Kashmir?
Indicator A1 (Free and fair head-of-government elections) changed by -3 points, moving from 3/4 to 0/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for Indian Kashmir.
How does Indian Kashmir rank within its Freedom House region?
Indian Kashmir holds position #35 of 43 in the Asia region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is New Zealand (99/100).