Indian Media - the 4th pillar of Indian Democracy

Media is called the fourth pillar of Indian democracy because its duty is to question those in power and show the truth to the public, but today many people criticize a section of mainstream media as “Godi Media” for acting more like supporters of the government than independent journalists. Critics say these channels avoid real issues, spread propaganda, and rarely challenge the ruling party, which weakens democracy and public trust. India’s press freedom situation has also been questioned globally, with Reporters Without Borders ranking India 159th in 2024, 151st in 2025, and 157th in 2026 in the World Press Freedom Index, citing pressure on journalists, media bias, and growing political influence over news coverage.