Academic Freedom Shrinks in the US and India, New Report Warns
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Academic freedom in the United States and India is facing an alarming decline, according to the Free to Think 2025 report by Scholars at Risk (SAR). The annual report documented 395 attacks on scholars, students, and institutions across 49 countries between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a sharp rise in illiberal policies, censorship, and state interference in higher education.
SAR highlighted that in the US, academic freedom is under its most severe pressure in modern history. The report recorded around 40 incidents in early 2025, with the Trump administration accused of revoking research grants, detaining international scholars, many for expressing pro-Palestine views and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. SAR’s executive director, Robert Quinn, called the US a “model for dismantling academic freedom,” warning that these measures also threaten the foundations of American democracy.
The White House recently urged top universities to cap international undergraduate enrolment and restrict hiring based on race and gender under a proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence”. Critics argue that such directives jeopardise both institutional autonomy and global collaboration.
In India, the report identified a “shrinking space for dissent” on campuses, with universities introducing strict bans on demonstrations and political discussions. SAR cited incidents of violence against professors, censorship of academic content, and political interference in hiring and curriculum decisions. The Academic Freedom Index classified India as “completely restricted” in 2024, with Delhi University’s faculty warning that campuses now resemble “policed zones”.
Maya John, a history lecturer at the University of Delhi, said the ruling regime’s growing control over publicly funded universities has led to “partisan appointments” and “silenced debate”.
Globally, academic freedom has declined in 36 of 179 countries since 2024. SAR urged the international academic community to unite, communicate the value of academic freedom, and secure formal protections for scholars worldwide.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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