PCI Operating at Half Strength, Without a Single Working Journalist or Newspaper Editor, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Press Council of India (PCI) is operating at half its sanctioned strength, with 13 member positions, including all working journalists and newspaper editors, remaining vacant.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has not yet formally notified the names of these 13 nominated members.
• The 14th Press Council completed its term on October 5, 2024, and the 15th Press Council has not been fully constituted since then.
• Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai was reappointed as the Chairperson of the PCI on April 24, 2026, for a second three-year term.

Detailed Insights:

• The Press Council Act, 1978, mandates a 29-member body, comprising a chairperson and 28 members, each serving a three-year term.
• The 28 members are specifically designated to include six newspaper owners, one news agency representative, five Members of Parliament, three experts from various fields, six newspaper editors, and seven working journalists.
• The PCI has repeatedly communicated with the I&B Ministry since May 2025, urging the expedited notification of nominated members to ensure the council's full functionality.
• The incomplete constitution of the council has raised concerns regarding its ability to uphold democratic values and ensure media accountability.
• In May 2025, the Delhi High Court sought responses from both the PCI and the Central government regarding the delay in constituting the 15th Press Council.
• The delay in filling the journalist and editor positions is partly attributed to opposition from various national journalist bodies over proposed changes in selection rules.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Press Council of India (PCI): A statutory, quasi-judicial body established under the Press Council Act, 1978, tasked with preserving press freedom and maintaining journalistic standards.
• Press Council Act, 1978: The parliamentary legislation that governs the establishment, composition, functions, and powers of the Press Council of India.
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B): The central government ministry responsible for policy formulation and administration of rules and laws related to information, broadcasting, press, and films in India.