Defamation refers to making false and damaging statements that harm another person's reputation. In the Indian legal context, defamation can be classified as either civil defamation or criminal defamation. Civil defamation allows the victim to seek monetary compensation in court for reputational damage. Criminal defamation, governed by Section 499 and Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), can lead to imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both. Defamation can be further divided into two types: libel, which involves written or published defamatory statements, and slander, which refers to spoken defamation. In India, the law balances protecting individual reputations with ensuring freedom of speech. However, defamation charges have sometimes been criticized for being used to silence criticism and dissent, particularly in political and social contexts.