IN THE PAST DECADE, the democratic space for dissent has gradually shrunk both on and off campuses across India. This trend is substantiated by the fact that India has seen a significant decline in its Academic Freedom Index (AFI) over the last ten years. The 2024 AFI places India among the bottom 30 percent of evaluated countries, with a score below 0.38 out of 1. Since 2013, this decline has been particularly sharp due to increased political interference, reduced university autonomy, and a lack of robust legal protections for academic freedom.
According to the report, “The global context reflects a broader trend, with many countries experiencing similar setbacks in academic freedom, often due to rising political and social polarization. In India’s case, researchers and institutions face pressure that limits independent inquiry, affecting the quality and scope of research and teaching.”
However, in India, the decline in academic freedom has impacted minority institutions the most. The issue of academic freedom concerning Muslims in India is complex, intersecting with broader debates about university autonomy, freedom of expression, and the treatment of religious minorities. Over the past decade, Muslim scholars and students have faced increasing challenges in academic spaces due to rising political polarization and identity-based tensions.
Censorship and surveillance of academic research or discussions related to topics like Muslim history, communalism, Kashmir, or critiques of the state’s policies toward Muslims, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), have been subject to government scrutiny. Scholars who address these topics often face backlash, including restrictions on their work, limitations on freedom of expression, and in some cases, legal action.
Indian universities have increasingly witnessed tensions related to religious and political identities. Muslim students and faculty members often experience discrimination and surveillance, especially when they engage in political activism or express dissenting views. Protests, such as those during the anti-CAA movement, were heavily centered on university campuses, with prominent Muslim figures taking the lead. Following these events, some universities implemented stricter regulations, and Muslim students reported feeling particularly targeted.
There have been allegations that Muslim academics face more hurdles in conducting independent research, especially on sensitive topics like minority rights or communal violence. Political pressure may limit their ability to pursue and publish unbiased work.
The broader trend of political interference in academic institutions has disproportionately affected Muslim scholars and students, whose work is often scrutinized through a nationalist lens. Ideological constraints, particularly in subjects like history and political science, can hinder open academic discourse on issues critical to the Muslim community in India.
Overall, the intersection of religious identity, political climate, and academic freedom presents significant challenges for Muslims in India’s academic landscape. These issues are exacerbated in a highly polarized environment where expressions of minority perspectives may be repressed.
According to Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, Professor of History at AMU and Secretary of the Indian History Congress, “There is no doubt that independence in research and teaching has suffered severely since this political dispensation has tried to intervene in our education system.
Not only in central universities, but also in private and aided institutions, the freedom to choose research topics and conduct impartial studies has been compromised. In the name of ‘uniformity,’ many centers of excellence have been stifled.”
“Political parties in power control the affairs of institutions to strategically use the large university community, which comprises voters, for their electoral success. It is therefore unsurprising that the government deliberately suppresses the dissenting voices of students and teachers who demand adequate funding for academic and research programs, fairness in exams, admissions, and staff recruitment,” said M.M. Ansari, former UGC member.
“Of late, due to pervasive communal polarization during general elections, minority institutions like AMU and JMI have suffered from reduced funding, faculty shortages, incompetent recruitments, and stringent control over students’ democratic participation in activities such as debates on citizenship laws and Wakf properties, which directly affect their human rights and wellbeing,” added the former UGC member.
The erosion of academic freedom in educational institutions disproportionately impacts minority institutions (MSIs) in several ways, exacerbating existing inequalities and hindering progress toward inclusive, equitable education. Academic freedom includes the right to pursue research that addresses systemic inequities and advocates for policy change.
With restrictions on this freedom, researchers at MSIs may struggle to secure funding for politically sensitive projects. Students at minority-serving institutions are often at the forefront of movements for racial and social justice. A decline in academic freedom stifles their activism, as institutions may impose punitive measures for protests or controversial discussions.
The lack of academic freedom disproportionately affects minority students, whose activism is often rooted in their lived experiences of discrimination and inequality. These students may feel discouraged from expressing themselves freely or advocating for institutional change.
The erosion of academic freedom is particularly detrimental to minority institutions and the students they serve. It limits access to diverse perspectives, undermines equity-based research, and hinders activism and community engagement. To counter these effects, it is crucial for policymakers, educators, and advocates to ensure robust protections for academic freedom, especially in institutions serving underrepresented and marginalized populations. 
Mohd Naushad Khan
The writer is a Delhi based journalist, presently working for weekly magazine, Radiance Views weekly as a Sub-Editor and also contributing articles to other national publications.
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