Detailed Solution:
The correct answer is “24th”.
A recent global survey by the U.S.-based think tank The Future of Free Speech ranked India 24th out of 33 countries in its Free Speech Index. Conducted in October 2024, the survey found that while support for free speech in India has declined since 2021, a majority of Indians believe it has improved.
The report, titled "Who in the World Supports Free Speech?", highlights the gap between public perception and actual protections for free speech in India, alongside broader global trends of democratic backsliding.
Norway (87.9) and Denmark (87.0) ranked highest in free speech support.