National Press Day 2025
Context:.
National Press Day is celebrated annually on November 16 to honour the role of a free and responsible press in India.
The theme for 2025 is “Safeguarding Press Credibility Amidst Rising Misinformation”.
The day marks the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI) in 1966.
Press Council of India (PCI):
It is a statutory autonomous body set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 (originally established under the 1965 Act).
The aim is to preserve the freedom of the Press and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
It acts as a watchdog for the press, by the press, and of the press, adjudicating complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics or freedom.
Key Legislative Reforms:
Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023:
It replaced the colonial Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867.
It modernizes the registration process, decriminalizes procedural lapses, and removes physical interfaces.
Press Registrar General of India (PRGI):
Under the PRP Act 2023, the office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) has been renamed as the PRGI.
Digital Initiatives:
Press Sewa Portal:
A fully digitized, paperless platform developed under the PRP Act for the registration of periodicals.
It features Aadhar-based e-signatures and a probability meter for title availability.
Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWSP)
It provides financial assistance to journalists and their families in cases of extreme hardship, permanent disability, major ailments, or death.