Inde

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to education in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• All communities are affected because of lack of equal access to education opportunities
• People from Dalit and Adivasi communities
• Students from tribal communities, especially those from the Denotified Tribes (DNTs)
• Muslims, especially students studying in madrasas (Muslim religious schools)
• Women and girls from Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities
• Women and girls from rural and remote areas
• Women and girls from conservative backgrounds or those with a low social or economic status
• Girls' access to education is negatively affected by harmful socio-cultural practices and beliefs, including menstrual discrimination, child marriages, and the use of female genital mutilation in certain communities
• People living in inaccessible, remote areas
• Sex workers and their children
• People with disabilities, particularly because educational infrastructure is not always inclusive and accessible
• Children living in areas affected by conflict and climate change
• There is a significant shortage of faculty in public universities, especially in Madhya Pradesh, with high vacancy rates for teaching positions across institutions
• Public higher education is systematically being defunded and private higher education is being incentivised

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 78% said Scheduled Castes
• 74% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 44% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 81% said Scheduled Tribes
• 74% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 74% said Muslims
• 56% said Christians
• 41% said Sikhs
• 41% said Hindus
• 26% said Buddhists
• 11% said Jains

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to food in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Food provided through the Public Distribution System is sometimes of substandard quality
• People were impacted by the closing of meat shops and markets on orders from non-state actors for two separate periods of 10-12 days to celebrate the Hindu Navaratri festivals
• People from Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities, especially women and girls
• There have been demands as well as decisions to not give children non-vegetarian food, such as eggs, in government-provided lunches, negatively impacting their growth and development
• People who are homeless or those with a low social or economic status, especially women and children
• Refugees and asylum-seekers, particularly those living in relief camps and detention centres
• People affected by climate change and related natural disasters
• People from remote areas and marginalised backgrounds, particularly women and girls
• People living in mining-affected areas
• People working on daily wages

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 67% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 67% said Scheduled Castes
• 37% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 70% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)
• 67% said Scheduled Tribes

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 63% said Muslims
• 52% said Christians
• 37% said Hindus
• 30% said Sikhs
• 22% said Buddhists
• 7% said Jains

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to health in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Private health insurance and private healthcare have produced inequalities and weakened public healthcare infrastructure, increasing the cost of healthcare for all people
• Public healthcare infrastructure is understaffed, underfunded, and poorly maintained, including health centres, daycare centres, hospitals, and health clinics in villages and small towns
• Health centres in certain areas that are responsible for dispensing contraceptives and nutritional neo-natal care rarely operate during their required hours, such as in Madhya Pradesh
• Non-governmental organisations are unable to raise funds and create support systems to help bridge the existing gap in healthcare, due to the government having suspended or refusing to issue Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act approvals
• Access to mental healthcare is impacted by financial difficulties and social stigma
• People from Dalit and Adivasi communities
• People from Dalit and Bahujan communities are forced to engage in discriminatory caste-based work, such as manual scavenging or cleaning sewage and septic tanks, that may cause health issues, or sometimes even death, despite legal prohibitions on these practices
• Women and girls, especially from marginalised backgrounds
• Women and girls' access to health is negatively affected by harmful socio-cultural practices and beliefs, including menstrual discrimination, child marriages, overall lack of awareness, and practices such as female genital mutilation in certain communities
• Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are subjected to unethical conversion therapies that have no basis in science
• Sex workers and members of the LGBTQIA+ community face social stigma which limits their access to quality healthcare
• People living in remote or rural areas cannot easily access quality healthcare

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 78% said Scheduled Castes
• 74% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 41% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 81% said Scheduled Tribes
• 74% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 74% said Muslims
• 56% said Christians
• 48% said Hindus
• 41% said Sikhs
• 30% said Buddhists
• 15% said Jains

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to housing in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People from Dalit and Bahujan communities
• People from tribal communities, particularly in remote areas
• Muslims are more likely to be discriminated against when renting homes
• Muslims are disproportionately vulnerable to forced evictions
• People accused of crimes, particularly Muslims, risk their homes demolished by the government as a form of extrajudicial punishment
• Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, due to social stigma
• People living in semi-permanent homes or in informal homes in slums
• People affected by climate change and related natural disasters
• Internally displaced people, especially the Banjara community in Gurgaon, Muslims, Hindus, Dalits, or Adivasis displaced due to development projects, and Rohingyas in Delhi and Jammu

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 81% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 78% said Scheduled Castes
• 33% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 70% said Scheduled Tribes
• 70% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 78% said Muslims
• 56% said Christians
• 37% said Sikhs
• 26% said Buddhists
• 19% said Hindus
• 11% said Jains

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to arbitrary or political arrest and detention by government agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People from tribal communities, particularly Adivasis and people from other Nomadic and Denotified Tribes
• People from Dalit and Bahujan communities, especially human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and leaders
• People from Dalit communities, including Dalit Christians
• Indigenous peoples from the North-Eastern states, especially human rights activists
• Muslims, especially men and those in Jammu and Kashmir
• There are reports from April 2024 where several Muslim men were arrested in Kashmir and held in ‘preventive detention’
• People who are critical of the government, its policies, the ruling party, its leaders, or its ideology face arrest and prosecution; charges include accusations of hate speech or 'insulting' the Hindu religion
• People belonging to the political opposition were arrested on various charges leading up to the 2024 general elections, such as corruption
• Environmental rights defenders
• Activists supporting and advocating for the rights of people from tribal and Dalit communities or religious minorities
• Activists and human rights defenders in Manipur, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir were charged with offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
• There were instances of people being arrested and ‘First Information Reports’ (FIRs) filed against them for participating in pro-Palestine protests or making pro-Palestine social media posts
• In October 2024, over 900 workers and employees associated with the Centre for Indian Trade Unions were arrested and detained for a day by police for allegedly ‘protesting illegally’ in Tamil Nadu
• Journalists who are critical of the government, report on human rights issues, or work as fact-checkers
• Journalists, human rights defenders, and protesters living in areas experiencing high levels of conflict or violence
• There are reports of independent and/or investigative journalists being subjected to raids conducted by the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate for alleged irregularities

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 66% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 55% said Scheduled Castes
• 38% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 55% said Scheduled Tribes
• 48% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 79% said Muslims
• 59% said Christians
• 45% said Sikhs
• 34% said Hindus
• 14% said Buddhists

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to disappearance by government agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Adivasi people, particularly from the tribal belt in central India
• Indigenous people from the north-eastern states, especially Manipur
• Muslims, particularly in conflict-affected areas
• People from Kashmir, particularly young men

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 38% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 34% said Scheduled Castes
• 7% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 41% said Scheduled Tribes
• 31% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 72% said Muslims
• 38% said Christians
• 24% said Sikhs
• 3% said Hindus
• 3% said Buddhists

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to death penalty executions by government agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Maoists or people suspected to be Maoists
• People with a low social or economic status, who may not have access to quality legal representation
• People from Dalit communities
• Muslims

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 41% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 34% said Scheduled Castes
• 3% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 38% said Scheduled Tribes
• 31% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 52% said Muslims
• 10% said Christians
• 3% said Hindus

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to extrajudicial killing by government agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People from Adivasi communities, especially in the tribal belt of central India
• Indigenous peoples from the North-Eastern states
• People from Dalit and Bahujan communities
• In May 2024, twelve Adivasi people from a village in Chhattisgarh were killed in an encounter by paramilitary forces who claimed that they were allegedly Maoist insurgents
• Muslims, especially in conflict-affected areas and in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Uttarakhand
• There were instances where people accused of committing crimes were killed by police in encounters, particularly Muslims or people with a low social or economic status
• Maoists or people suspected to be Maoists
• The Indian government has been accused of orchestrating assassinations of dissidents and separatists in Canada, the United States of America, and Pakistan
• There have been instances of protesters being killed due to excessive force used by the police
• People living in Kashmir, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, the tribal belt of Central India, North-Eastern states, and near the India-Bangladesh border
• People in areas like Kashmir, Manipur, and other regions where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 remains in force
• 'Encounter killings' are reported in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and certain other states

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 55% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 45% said Scheduled Castes
• 7% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 41% said Scheduled Tribes
• 28% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 72% said Muslims
• 34% said Christians
• 24% said Sikhs
• 10% said Hindus

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to restrictions on their rights to assembly and association by the government or its agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People from Dalit communities
• Muslims, especially those who pray in public spaces or on the streets
• Several opposition political parties had their right to assembly and association restricted ahead of the 2024 general election
• Repressive laws are used to clamp down on non-governmental organisations, think tanks, and civil society organisations
• Human rights defenders and trade unions are intimidated by raids and criminal prosecutions
• Human rights defenders, especially if they work on environmental rights, women's rights, and youth rights
• Associations involved in human rights advocacy, especially if they focus on the rights of minority groups and Indigenous peoples
• Civil society, think tanks, and activists are affected by the withdrawal of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act licenses, anti-terrorism laws, tax raids, and financial investigations
• People expressing solidarity with Palestinian people, especially at protests, particularly students and members of labour unions
• Protesters are attacked and arrested by police, such as people participating in the 2024 farmers' protest, people at the climate justice protests in Ladakh, and people involved in a protest led by Adivasi leaders in Gadchiroli
• Protesters participating in the ongoing farmers' protests on the Delhi border are vilified, threatened, and subjected to excessive force by the police, including the use of drones and tear gas
• There have been instances of pro-Palestine protests being criminalised, with protesters being subject to criminal proceedings, including charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
• Christians are arrested, detained, and accused of allegedly attempting to convert others forcefully, even if they are gathering for prayer meetings or otherwise in their own homes or private residences
• People in conflict-affected regions such as Manipur and Kashmir

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 64% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 58% said Scheduled Castes
• 33% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 61% said Scheduled Tribes
• 48% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 67% said Muslims
• 61% said Christians
• 45% said Sikhs
• 18% said Hindus
• 9% said Buddhists

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to restrictions on their rights to opinion and expression by government agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Internet shutdowns are frequently imposed, particularly in Manipur and other regions designated to be ‘sensitive’ or prone to unrest and violence
• There have been instances of the government issuing blockades, bans, and take-down orders for websites, social media posts, links, and news articles
• New criminal laws have been introduced that bring back provisions from the old colonial-era sedition law, which criminalise acts that 'endanger national integrity' and use other such ambiguous terminology that could be misused or arbitrarily interpreted
• All people, including social media users, especially those who speak in favour of human rights
• Religious minorities, especially Muslims
• Human rights activists and associations, non-governmental organisations, and journalists working on displaced people and marginalised groups, have had their Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act approvals withdrawn or suspended, severely restricting their ability to raise funds from abroad
• There were instances where First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against people posting pro-Palestine content on social media and they were subjected to harassment on social media
• Journalists, especially women and those belonging to Muslim, Dalit and Adivasi communities, are at risk of facing criminal charges, physical attacks, assaults, threats, harassment, tax raids, and investigations, especially if they are reporting on elections, social issues, and environmental issues like illegal mining
• Journalists, especially in Kashmir and the central tribal belt
• Foreign journalists faced visa revocations or non-renewals following their reporting on sensitive topics
• Filmmakers focusing on issues such as Hindutva, homophobia, and women's disempowerment
• Online content creators and YouTubers
• Social media accounts of organisations and individuals that criticise the government were suspended, especially on “X”
• Left-wing political parties
• British Professor Nitasha Kaul was invited to a conference sponsored by the Karnataka state government, but denied entry by immigration authorities, and arbitrarily deported
• People in conflict-affected areas, such as Manipur and Kashmir
• There have been reports of government authorities instructing religious preachers not to address the conflict in Palestine in their sermons or religious services

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 67% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 61% said Scheduled Castes
• 30% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 61% said Scheduled Tribes
• 48% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 67% said Muslims
• 58% said Christians
• 48% said Sikhs
• 24% said Hindus
• 9% said Buddhists

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to restrictions on their political participation by the government or its agents in 2024, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People from Dalit and Adivasi communities
• Muslims and Christians
• Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam
• The largest political party in the country has not fielded Muslim candidates to run for elections, adversely affecting Muslim representation in the Parliament as well as in state assemblies where they are in majority, which means that nearly twelve percent of India's population does not have proportionate political representation
• There were instances where Muslims were allegedly restricted from voting in some areas in the 2024 general elections
• Opposition parties have alleged that there were voting irregularities in the 2024 general election as well as in a state election, including voter lists and voting machine issues, and claimed that the Election Commission reportedly ignored and rejected these allegations
• Leaders and supporters of political parties other than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including the Indian National Congress and allied parties, particularly in BJP-led states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and others
• Political organisations in Jammu and Kashmir have been declared unlawful citing various allegations
• Members of opposition political parties were jailed on various charges, including corruption, and these arrests happened very close to elections
• Bank accounts of the main opposition political party were frozen before the general election
• Major opposition leaders in Delhi and Jharkhand were arrested and jailed on a variety of charges just before the 2024 general election
• The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are weaponised against opposition leaders
• Complaints of violations of the Model Code of Conduct by opposition leaders were taken seriously by the Election Commission of India, while violations by the ruling party were condoned
• The Electoral Bond Scheme, which is used for funding political parties, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of India, meaning that political donations can no longer be anonymous, and there is a mandate that donor identities be disclosed
• People in conflict-affected regions such as Kashmir

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which caste-based groups were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 61% said Other Dalit communities (such as Muslims or Christians)
• 52% said Scheduled Castes
• 24% said Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which Indigenous communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 61% said Scheduled Tribes
• 45% said Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

When we asked survey respondents to provide more information about which religious communities were especially at risk for violations of this right:

• 64% said Muslims
• 52% said Christians
• 36% said Sikhs
• 9% said Hindus
• 9% said Buddhists