Every Monday , we bring you UPSC Current Affairs Pointers—a concise, exam-focused guide to help you stay ahead in your Prelims and Mains preparation.

( FYI: The data provided in these reports can be used to substantiate your Mains answer and create a broad understanding of the topic.)

— World Press Freedom Index, which evaluates 180 countries, recorded its lowest average score in the index’s 25-year history.

— It is an annual report published by Reporters Without Borders.

— For the first time in the Index’s 25-year history, more than half the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.

— For the first time, in over half of the world’s countries and territories (52.2%), the state of press freedom is categorised as “difficult” or “very serious.” This category was a small minority (13.7%) in 2002.

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— According to the Report, “The Index’s legal indicator has seen the most severe decline this year.…