Data justice for India in

80+ global indices

Data justice for India in

80+ global indices

When Rankings Are Weaponised

Global indices are not always neutral tools. At times, they become weapons of perception — shaping narratives less by facts and more by selective filters.

Through the Satirical Lens

Rankings reduced to regime-change tools, where perception trumps reality.

The humor is sharp — but the implications are serious. Flawed indices can distort India’s global image, eroding credibility in debates on democracy, growth, rights, and sustainability.

Electoral Democracy Index (V-Dem)

India’s Rank: 108th, below Tunisia and Colombia.

Reality Check:

“Democracy cannot be assessed using the lens of selective Western experiences. India is too complex for checkbox frameworks.” — Dr. S. Jaishankar, EAM

Why It Matters: Weaponized to label India a “backsliding democracy.”

Human Development Index (UNDP)

India’s Rank: 134th, behind Cuba, Palestine, and Venezuela.

Reality Check:

 “These indices have a halo of credibility, but the devil is in the methodology… Perception-based or outdated models can distort the picture dramatically.” — Brookings Institution

Why It Matters: Shapes global perception of India’s growth story.

World Press Freedom Index (RSF)

India’s Rank: 159th, behind Nigeria, Rwanda, and Bangladesh.


Reality Check:


 “Ignore the noisiest, most diverse media on earth, and you measure only your echo chamber.” — NITI Aayog

Why It Matters: Cited to undermine India’s democratic credentials.

Global Hunger Index (Concern Worldwide & Welthungerhilfe)

India’s Rank: 105th — placed in the same “serious” category as famine-hit nations like Sudan and Angola, despite being food-surplus.

Reality Check:

 “GHI’s methodology lacks rigor, misrepresenting food security.” — Indian Council of Medical Research, 2023

Why It Matters: Used to suggest India is failing its poor, ignoring food-security achievements.

Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

India’s Rank: 180th — last among 180 nations, below Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen.

Reality Check:

 “Composite Environmental Indices Study (2023) – a case of rickety rankings.” — PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine

Why It Matters: Weaponised in climate debates to paint India as an “environmental laggard.”

The Bigger Picture

A pattern emerges: indices that fail methodological rigor can shift global narratives against India. What begins as “data” often becomes policy leverage.

At GRW, we do not dismiss these indices. We scrutinize them, expose blind spots, and restore context — so India’s position in the world is measured, not misrepresented.