members. While the Chairman has, by convention, been a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme
Court of India, of the 28 members, 20 represent various segments of the Press and eight
overseeing the readers’ interest, are representatives of the two Houses of Parliament (3 Lok
Sabha and 2 Rajya Sabha) and premier literary and legal bodies of the country i.e., University
Grants Commission, Bar Council of India and Sahitya Akademi. The Council has its own funds
for performance of its functions under the Act that comprises the fee collected from newspapers,
other receipts and also grants in-aid by from the central government.
The Press Council has the responsibility to preserve the freedom of the press and to
maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in the country. There is
also an advisory role on the Council in that it can, either suo-motu or on a reference made to it by
the government under Section 13(2) of the Act, undertake studies and express its opinion in
regard to any bill, legislation, law or other matters concerning the press and convey its opinion to
the government or the persons concerned. Also, in the matters of public importance concerning
its statutory responsibilities, the Council may suo-moto take an on-the-spot inquiry.
The Council discharges its functions primarily through adjudications on complaint cases
received by it, either against the press for violation of journalistic ethics or by the press for
interference with its freedom. Where the Council is satisfied, after inquiry, that a newspaper or a
news agency has offended the standards of journalistic ethics or public taste or that an editor or
working journalist has committed any professional misconduct, the Council may warn, admonish
or censure them or disapprove of their conduct. It is also empowered to make such observations
as it may think fit in respect of the conduct of any authority, including Government, for
interfering with the freedom of the press so prescribed under Section(4) the decisions of the
Council are final and cannot be questioned in any court of law.
Press and Registration Appellate Board
Section 8C of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 entrusts to the Press Council,
the Appellate Jurisdiction over the Magisterial Orders of non-authentication of a Declaration
under Section 6 or its subsequent cancellation under Section 8B of the said Act. The Board
consist of a Chairman and another member to be nominated by the Press Council of India among
its members.
National Press Day
The National Press Day is celebrated annually on November 16 as a symbol of a free and
responsible press in the country.
Relevant Website: www.presscouncil.nic.in
New Media Wing
Set up in 1945, the Research, Reference and Training Division now renamed as “New
Media Wing” functions as information unit for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. It
provides background, reference and research material for use of the Ministry, its media units and
others engaged in mass communication.
Social Media
Since its inception in 2012, Social Media Cell of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
performs various activities to reach out to the last mile. The Ministry is active on all major social