Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:ON November 16, India celebrates National Press Day, honouring the essential role of a free and responsible press. The Day marks the establishment of the Press Council of India in 1966.
The idea for the Council was first proposed by the First Press Commission in 1956, which emphasised the need to protect press freedom and promote ethical reporting.
India’s vibrant media landscape continues to grow, registered publications have risen from 60,143 in 2004-05 to 1.54 lakh in 2024-25, reflecting the expanding reach and strength of the press.
This day symbolises a free and responsible press, central to democracy. It is commemorated through various activities, including the National Awards for Excellence in Journalism and the release of a souvenir.
Media governance
India’s media governance framework comprises a robust set of institutions, laws, and initiatives designed to safeguard press freedom, strengthen ethical journalism, modernise regulatory processes, and support media professionals. From statutory bodies like the Press Council of India and the Press Registrar General of India to landmark reforms such as the PRP Act, 2023 and the digital Press Sewa Portal, this ecosystem upholds the integrity, accountability, and development of the country’s media sector. Established in 1956, the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) is linked to the rise of the print media in the country. Previously known as the Registrar of Newspapers for India, the PRGI is a statutory body as per the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023.
The press played a vital role in shaping public opinion and in channelising the energy of people in India’s struggle for independence. Aware about the role of the print media in the freedom struggle, and the part it could continue to play in strengthening democracy, the Government of free India set up the first Press Commission in 1956. The commission was mandated to examine the state of the Press in India and to make recommendations for its all-round development in the long term.
Statutory, autonomous
Press Council of India, a statutory autonomous body, has been set up mainly to preserve the freedom of the press and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies. The PCI considers complaints filed ‘by the press’ concerning curtailment of press freedom, and physical assault/attack on journalists etc.
The PCI is also empowered to take suo-motu cognizance in matters on the pressing issues concerning freedom of press and safeguarding of its high standards. Since its inception, the Council has taken significant strides in shaping the landscape of press freedom and ensuring that the media in India upholds high ethical standards while remaining independent.
The PCI has signed MoUs with press councils from countries like Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, aimed at fostering mutual cooperation and advancing press freedom globally. It introduced merit-based internships for journalism students to foster a sense of responsibility and awareness regarding press freedom.
Allotment, registration
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 (PRP Act), notified on December 29, 2023 and enforced from March 1, 2024, modernises and replaces the colonial PRB Act, 1867. It introduces a fully online, integrated system for simultaneous title allotment and registration, implemented through the Press Sewa portal. The Act renames RNI as the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI), streamlines procedures, removes physical interfaces, reduces compliance burdens, and decriminalises procedural lapses. The accompanying PRP Rules, 2024, provide the operational framework, together creating a transparent, efficient, and contemporary regulatory system for periodicals.
IIMC, welfare scheme
Inaugurated on August 17, 1965, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication started with a small staff, including two consultants from Unesco. In the first few years, the institute organised training courses mainly for Central Information Service officers. Over the years, IIMC started to offer regular Post-Graduate Diploma Courses. By introducing specialised journalism programmes and expanding linguistic offerings, today the IIMC is fostering an inclusive media ecosystem.
Besides, a Journalist Welfare Scheme was launched in 2001, and revised in 2019. The main objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the journalists and their families under extreme hardships.
