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India slipped to 157th place out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, according to the latest report of media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières. The country was ranked 151st in 2025.

India continues to remain in the “very serious” category, according to the non-government organisation, which has been publishing the World Press Freedom Index since 2002.

The organisation said that “legal frameworks are increasingly being weaponised to silence newsrooms” even in democratic countries.

“In India, judicial harassment of independent media is intensifying, driven by the growing use of criminal statutes – defamation and national security laws among them – directly targeting journalists,” said the organisation, known in English as Reporters Without Borders.

The global media watchdog also noted that, for the first time since the index began, more than half of the countries assessed fall under the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom. It added that only 13.7% of countries were placed in these categories when the index was first launched in 2002.

The organisation further said that the average press freedom score across the 180 countries and territories surveyed had reached its lowest level ever.

Among India’s neighbours, Nepal ranked 87th, followed by the Maldives at 108th, Sri Lanka at 134th, Bhutan at 150th, Bangladesh at 152nd and Pakistan at 153rd. India performed better than Myanmar, which ranked 166th, Afghanistan at 175th and China at 178th.

Norway, the Netherlands and Estonia secured the top three positions in the index.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief C. Joseph Vijay has pledged a corruption-free and transparent administration, assuring that public funds will never be misused. In his debut address, he vowed to eradicate corruption, warned his cabinet against any wrongdoing, and emphasized transparent governance.

Rakesh Moirangthem’s Manipuri feature film Phouoibee (The Goddess of Paddy) selected for the 18th Habitat Film Festival 2026 in New Delhi, continuing its successful festival journey

Acclaimed Manipuri filmmaker Rakesh Moirangthem’s feature film Phouoibee (The Goddess of Paddy) has been officially selected for the prestigious 18th Habitat Film Festival 2026 to be held in New Delhi. The selection marks another significant achievement for the film, which has continued to earn recognition at major film festivals across India.

Earlier, Phouoibee (The Goddess of Paddy) was officially selected at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival 2025, the 9th International Film Festival 2026 in Thrissur, Kerala, the 2nd Guwahati Asian Film Festival 2026 in Assam, the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2026, and the International Film Festival Delhi 2026.

The film also received the Jury Special Award at the 3rd North East India Film Festival 2026 held in Manipur, further strengthening its growing acclaim in the Indian festival circuit.

Indian government imposes steep ₹993 increase on 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders, taking price to ₹3,071.50 in Delhi

The Union government on Friday (May 1) raised the price of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders by ₹993—the steepest increase so far—marking the third consecutive monthly hike, according to PTI. The surge comes amid rising global energy prices linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis.

A 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder, widely used by hotels and restaurants, has now seen a more than 40% increase compared to April levels. In Delhi, the price has climbed to ₹3,071.50, up sharply from ₹2,078.50 last month.

This follows earlier hikes of ₹195.50 on April 1 and ₹114.50 on March 1. In total, commercial LPG prices have risen by a substantial ₹1,303 over the past three months, significantly increasing operational costs for businesses reliant on the fuel.