Authorities have intensified their crackdown on activists and rights campaigners. In June 2026, activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were again denied bail after being held under the UAPA since 2020 on baseless charges linked to the February 2020 Delhi riots. “When human rights defenders can spend years entangled in legal proceedings for their activism and exercising their fundamental freedoms, the process itself becomes a form of punishment.” In July 2026, authorities banned the film Satluj, which depicts the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, less than 48 hours after its release. These actions are inconsistent with India’s international human rights obligations.”