NEW DELHI — India has been ranked as “high risk” in the Global Torture Index 2025, a first-of-its-kind annual assessment developed by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in collaboration with over 200 civil society organisations across five regions.
The Global Torture Index, developed by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), released on Thursday, June 26 assesses the risk of torture and other ill-treatment worldwide using seven thematic pillars, including, political commitment against torture, ending police brutality and institutional violence, freedom from torture in detention, ending impunity, victims’ rights, protection for all, and the right to defend and civic space.
The index evaluates 26 countries on the prevalence of torture and ill-treatment, based on seven thematic pillars and a methodology drawn from international human rights standards.
1. Political Commitment
2. Police Brutality & Institutional Violence
3. Freedom from Torture in Custody
4. Ending Impunity
5. Victims’ Rights
6. Protection for All
7. Civic Space & Defenders
India is categorized as high-risk—indicating widespread torture, serious legal gaps, and weak protections
All seven pillars scored poorly; only Political Commitment was better rated but still “considerable risk”
The India factsheet, based on data from 2023–24 and authored in partnership with Tamil Nadu-based People’s Watch, paints a grim picture: torture in India is not just prevalent but systemic, disproportionately affecting Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and migrant workers. In 2024 alone, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported 2,739 custodial deaths, a steep rise from the 2,400 cases in 2023, according to the report.
The index highlights the routine misuse of laws like the UAPA by agencies such as the NIA and CBI, the use of unofficial detention sites, chronic prison overcrowding, and widespread discrimination, especially against marginalised groups and human rights defenders, while also criticising the National Human Rights Commission for failing to address these abuses.
Key Findings on India
1. Systemic and Institutionalized Abuse
* Torture—especially in police custody—is widespread, with brutality rewarded rather than punished
* Minority and marginalized groups—Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, LGBTQIA+, migrants—are disproportionately targeted
2. Custodial Deaths & Overcrowding
* In 2024, the NHRC reported 2,739 custodial deaths, up from ~2,400 in 2023
* Over 75% of prisoners are undertrial, with prison occupancy at 131.4%
3. Legal Vacuum
* India still has no standalone torture law, and has not ratified the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT)
* Recent legal updates (BNS, BNSS, BSB) allow extended custody and maintain official immunity .
4. Impunity & Weak Oversight
* Despite numerous human rights bodies (NHRC, 169 institutions), zero police prosecutions for torture or custodial deaths
* NHRC was downgraded from ‘A’ to ‘B’ by GANHRI in March 2025
5. Shrinking Civic Space
* Misuse of UAPA for arbitrary arrests, targeting activists and defenders
* Over 30,000 NGOs lost FCRA licenses; laws like IT Rules 2021 clamp down on dissent
6. Lack of Transparency
* Data on torture and custody deaths is “concealed,” with insufficient public access
* Nearly 2,701 police stations still lack mandated CCTV installation
Illustrative Cases
* Two Christian traders (Tamil Nadu, 2020): Arrested during COVID lockdown, tortured, found dead; trial still bogged down after five years
* Human-rights defenders: Cases like Khurram Parvez, GN Saibaba (disabled professor imprisoned 10 years), Soni Sori, Bhima Koregaon activists highlight torture used as political repression
OMCT Recommendations for India
The Global Torture Index outlines a 10-point plan, including:
* Ratify UNCAT and its Optional Protocol.
* Enact a comprehensive domestic torture law.
* Repeal or reform laws like AFSPA, UAPA, FCRA.
* Enforce Supreme Court orders mandating CCTV in police stations.
* Abolish impunity via independent prosecutions, align with Mandela and Bangkok Rules on detention
The OMCT Global Torture Index (June 2025) paints a harrowing portrait of systemic torture, impunity, and flawed institutional safeguards in India. It’s a clarion call for urgent, multi-pronged reform—spanning legislation, enforcement, transparency, and protection of civic space.
