EXPLORING MEDIA POLICY FRAMEWORK AND MEDIA FREEDOM IN SAARC COUNTRIES

Abstract [English]

This research paper examines the media policy frameworks and the status of media freedom in SAARC countries, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The study seeks to analyse how constitutional provisions, statutory media laws, and regulatory institutions shape the operational environment of print, electronic, and digital media across the South Asian region. The central objective of the paper is to critically align national media policies with the actual conditions of media freedom, as reflected in internationally recognised indicators. The study is based entirely on secondary data, drawing primarily from government policy documents, constitutional provisions, media regulatory laws, and global press freedom assessments published by Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Using a comparative and thematic analytical approach, the paper evaluates the extent to which media regulations uphold or undermine freedom of expression, editorial independence, a

The findings reveal a significant gap between constitutional guarantees and regulatory practice in most SAARC countries. While freedom of expression is formally recognised in constitutional texts, media policies particularly in the domains of broadcasting and digital media often empower executive authorities with extensive discretionary control. The study further observes that restrictive cyber laws, licensing regimes, and national security narratives have contributed to declining media freedom scores in several countries.