Every Monday , we bring you UPSC Current Affairs Pointers—a concise, exam-focused guide to help you stay ahead in your Prelims and Mains preparation. ( FYI: The data provided in these reports can be used to substantiate your Mains answer and create a broad understanding of the topic.) — World Press Freedom Index, which evaluates 180 countries, recorded its lowest average score in the index’s 25-year history. — It is an annual report published by Reporters Without Borders. — For the first time in the Index’s 25-year history, more than half the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom. — For the first time, in over half of the world’s countries and territories (52.2%), the state of press freedom is categorised as “difficult” or “very serious.” This category was a small minority (13.7%) in 2002. Story continues below this ad — According to the Report, “The Index’s legal indicator has seen the most severe decline this year.…