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Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Press Freedom in the Indian Neighbourhood
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Global Politics Team
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Afghanistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on political control, religious restrictions and economic vulnerabilities
Since the Taliban returned to power, Afghanistan’s media has remained under strict political and legal control. Journalists continue to face censorship, economic hardship and security threats.
Siddhi Halyur
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Bangladesh and Press Freedom:
Four Takeaways on Digital security laws, Political polarisation, Journalist safety, and Media vulnerability
Among the newspapers, Bengali-language newspapers are the most popular among the population. A majority of the urban youth and politically active audiences are active on social media.
Nithin V
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Bhutan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on Regulatory control, Economic fragility, and Social constraints
Both state-owned and private outlets dominate the flow of information to the public, with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service and Kuensel leading the way. Private houses such as The Bhutanese and Bhutan Times operate within limits.
Glynnis Winona B
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Maldives and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on the influence of democracy, legislation, and state funding
In Maldives, press freedom remains fragile and heavily shaped by political power and restrictive laws. While constitutional provisions protect journalists, they still face intimidation and censorship.
Aishal Hab Yousuf
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Myanmar and Press Freedom:
Four Takeaways on Legal repression, Institutional collapse, Violence, and Digital control
Before the coup, Myanmar had witnessed a growing independent media sector with outlets such as Mizzima, Democratic Voice of Burma, and Myanmar Now. These organizations played a major role in political reporting, but the coup has led to their shutdown.
Glynnis Winona B
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Nepal and Press Freedom:
Three takeaways on Political constraints, Missing legal protection and Funding issues
Nepal’s constitution states that the country ensures “full freedom of the press” in its preamble. However, in practice, the country does not offer the same. Political influence is one of the primary reasons for restricted media independence.
Siddhi Halyur
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Pakistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways Military influence, cyber laws, political instability, and youth-driven digital journalism
Though Pakistan has improved its 2025 position from 158, it does not indicate positive conditions for press freedom in the country. Digital journalism through social media platforms and independent online news portals is widely popular among the young.
Nithin V
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Sri Lanka and Press Freedom:
Five Takeaways on Political influence, Legal mechanisms to control, Ethnic sensitivities and History of State intimidation
Despite the end of civil war, freedom of the press is still encumbered by challenges, including political pressure on state and private media, ethnic and religious sensitivities, and the long history of state intimidation.
Aishal Hab Yousuf
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Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Moscow Format Consultation:
Sreemaya Nair | Sreemaya Nair is currently pursuing her postgraduate degree from the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, and is part of the Neighbourhood Reader team at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
Catastrophic Floods in Nepal:
Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.
What is the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?
Arafaath Rahby | Arafaath Rahby is a Senior Project Officer at the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka (Apr-Jun 2026):
Athar Zafar | Dr Athar Zafar is a Delhi based researcher; views are personal.
Central Asia and South Caucasus (Apr-Jun 2026)
Adwaith Sankar | Adwaith Sankar is a final-year undergraduate student pursuing Political Science and International Liberal Studies through the NUS-Waseda Double Degree Programme. He is currently a research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
President Min Aung Hlaing's Thailand visit
Adwaith Sankar | Adwaith Sankar is a final-year undergraduate student pursuing Political Science and International Liberal Studies through the NUS-Waseda Double Degree Programme. He is currently a research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS),
India, Indonesia and PM Modi's Visit:
Namrata L Ghanghatkar | Namrata L Ghanghatkar is a postgraduate student at the Department of Public Policy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru. She is currently a research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
Nepal, Climate disasters and Gender:
Dhivya KM | Dhivya KM is an intern at NIAS and is also a postgraduate student from the Department of Financial Economics, Madras School of Economics, Chennai.
The IMF in Sri Lanka: Debt, Dependence, and Dissent
Mahesh Bhatta | Mahesh Raj Bhatta is a Research Fellow and Project Manager at the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Nepal (Apr-Jun 2026):
Anwesha Ghosh | Dr Anwesha Ghosh is a Research Fellow at ICWA, New Delhi. She is the author of Identity and Marginality in India (Routledge, 2020) and Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Pasts and Anticipations (KW Publishers, 2026).
Afghanistan (Apr-Jun 2026):
Adarsh Vijay | Adarsh Vijay is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai.
India and the World (Apr-Jun 2026)
Aparna A Nair | Aparna A Nair is a postgraduate student at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai. She is currently a research intern at NIAS.
Myanmar President's China visit:
Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader and Africa Studies team.
The Making of India's Foreign Policy:
Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.
India as a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region:
Global Politics Team
Press Freedom in the Indian Neighbourhood
Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru
Myanmar and Press Freedom:
Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in International Relations, with an interest in geopolitics, international political economy, and climate governance. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.Â
Bangladesh and Press Freedom:
Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
Sri Lanka and Press Freedom:
Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru
Bhutan and Press Freedom:
Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
Maldives and Press Freedom:
Siddhi Halyur | Siddhi Halyur is an undergraduate from St. Joseph's University currently interning at NIAS.Â
Afghanistan and Press Freedom:
Siddhi Halyur | Siddhi Halyur is an undergraduate from St. Joseph's University currently interning at NIAS.
Nepal and Press Freedom:
Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at NIAS, Bengaluru.
Sri Lanka and the US-Iran War:
Mahesh Bhatta | Mr Mahesh Raj Bhatta is a Research Fellow at the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), Kathmandu, Nepal.
Nepal's New National Commitment
Preetha Renganarayanan | Preetha Renganarayanan is a Research Assistant with the NIAS.
The US-Iran War Fallouts on the Asia Pacific, Energy Security and Supply Chains
Anwesha Ghosh | Dr Anwesha Ghosh is a Research Fellow at ICWA, New Delhi. She is the author of Identity and Marginality in India (Routledge, 2020) and Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Pasts and Anticipations (KW Publishers, 2026).
Afghanistan (Jan–Mar 2026):
Nanda Kishor M S | Dr Nanda Kishor MS is Head and Associate Professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies.
India and the Neighbourhood (Jan-Mar 2026)
Adarsh Vijay | Adarsh Vijay is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai.
India and the World (Jan-Mar 2026)
Nishchal N Pandey & Mahesh Raj Bhatta
Nepal (Jan-Mar 2026)
Bibhu Prasad Routray
Myanmar (Jan-Mar 2026)
Nishchal Nath Pandey
Nepal Elections 2026: Political Parties, Gen Z Protests and Hope for a New Beginning
Brighty Ann Sarah
Bangladesh and the Sheikh Hasina Verdict: Background, Responses, and Implications
Mahesh Batta
Nepal: Youth Unrest, Bad Governance and Political Breakdown
Suchitra Jakkala
Sri Lanka Budget 2025: Three Major Takeaways
South Asia Brief Team
US aid suspension in Nepal, 50 years of tourism in Bhutan, new political party in Bangladesh, freed scam workers in Myanmar and the INR-LKR trade roundtable
South Asia Brief Team
US aid cut in Nepal, the Starlink launch in Bhutan, TNLA-Military Negotiations in Myanmar and India-Bangladesh tensions
South Asia Brief Team
Student Protests against Social Media Bill in Nepal, Rescue from Scam Centres in Myanmar, Violence in Bangladesh and Adani’s Exit in Sri Lanka
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
Sri Lanka: The rise of ultra-nationalism and elections
Akhil Ajith
Xi visit to Russia
GP Team
India and the US: Bilateral Collaboration on Technology dominates PM Modi's Visit
Lakshmi Parimala H
Bhutan's Gross National Happiness
IPRI Team
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Stalemate
IPRI Team