US, Pakistan trail India in press freedom index

India has fared better than its neighbours in South Asia as well as the US in the Annual Press Freedom Index prepared by an international media watchdog.

The Index released last night by the Paris-based Reporters without Borders placed India in the press freedom scale at the 106th position while its neighbour Pakistan was ranked 150 and the US was at 137.

India’s other neighbours were also low down the order in the index which rated 167 countries, with Sri Lanka placed at 115, Afghanistan at 125, China 159 and Nepal 160.

While Denmark retained its ‘‘Numero Uno’’ position, North Korea was adjudged the country with least press freedom.