National Press Day: India’s Fourth Pillar Under Scrutiny

National Press Day: India’s Fourth Pillar Under Scrutiny

National Press Day is observed on November 16 every year in India, commemorating the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI) in 1966 under the Press Council Act of 1965. This day stands as a vital reminder of the media’s foundational role in sustaining democratic governance and protecting the rights of citizens. As India’s media landscape continues to evolve—from its roots in the independence movement to its current digital transformation—November 16 serves as an important occasion to assess both the achievements and challenges confronting journalism in the nation.​

The Evolution of Indian Press

India’s press heritage traces back to pioneering journalists like Raja Ram Mohan Roy during the colonial period, who championed freedom of expression against British censorship. After independence, the First Press Commission was established in 1956 to examine the state of the press and recommend measures for its development. The Press Council of India was subsequently reconstituted in 1979 as an independent quasi-judicial body tasked with maintaining high journalistic standards while protecting press freedom from external influences. Today, India boasts one of the world’s most vibrant media ecosystems, with registered publications growing from 60,143 in 2004-05 to 1.54 lakh in 2024-25, reflecting the expanding reach and strength of the press.​

The Positive Dimension: Media as Democracy’s Guardian

Investigative Journalism and Accountability

Indian media has demonstrated remarkable capacity for exposing corruption and holding power to account. Investigative platforms like The Wire, Tehelka, and Cobrapost have broken significant stories on government accountability, corporate misconduct, and social injustices. These investigations have compelled authorities to respond and sparked policy discussions, fulfilling the media’s fundamental democratic mandate.​

Amplifying Marginalized Voices

Digital and social media platforms have democratized information dissemination, enabling citizen journalism to flourish. Platforms like MeriNews pioneered citizen journalism in India, while social media movements including #MeTooIndia, #JusticeForNirbhaya, and **#Saverey have mobilized public opinion on gender justice, environmental protection, and human rights. During the 2012 Nirbhaya protests and environmental campaigns, social media provided marginalized communities powerful tools to share stories and demand action from policymakers.​

Real-Time Crisis Response

Media, particularly social media platforms, played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, spreading vital information, organizing relief efforts, and connecting people with essential services. Doctors used Twitter to highlight oxygen shortages, demonstrating how media can exert pressure on authorities for immediate action. Similarly, during natural disasters, citizen journalists provided eyewitness accounts and real footage that complemented professional reporting.​

Educational and Empowerment Functions

Beyond news dissemination, media facilitates learning and awareness. YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, and digital platforms provide accessible educational resources, while traditional media continues to set public agendas on development, health, and governance issues.​

The Critical Perspective: Systemic Challenges to Press Freedom

Concentration of Ownership and Corporate Influence

A fundamental challenge undermining Indian media’s democratic role is the concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few corporate conglomerates and political elites. This limited diversity of ownership fosters self-censorship and limits the plurality of viewpoints. Media ownership is dominated by business groups with vested interests, compromising editorial independence and creating potential for corporate and political hijacking of news narratives.​

Government Interference and Legal Harassment

Despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom, journalists increasingly face intimidation and prosecution under spurious charges. Indian authorities have arrested journalists on terrorism and sedition charges, while the Editors Guild of India has documented widespread use of anti-terror statutes and defamation laws as tools for suppressing dissent. In states like Uttar Pradesh, authorities filed criminal cases against 66 journalists since 2017 for content critical of the government. In Kashmir, at least 35 journalists faced police interrogation, raids, threats, and fabricated cases for their reporting. Women journalists, particularly those from minority communities, face severe harassment, including rape and death threats coordinated on social media platforms.​

Regulatory Limitations

The Press Council of India, though established as an independent body, functions primarily as an advisory entity lacking robust enforcement mechanisms. The NBSA (News Broadcasting Standards Authority) similarly operates with limited sanctioning power, rendering directives largely ineffective in holding media outlets accountable for ethical breaches.​

TRP-Driven Sensationalism and Biased Reporting

Indian media has increasingly prioritized entertainment and sensationalized reporting over objective journalism. High-profile celebrity cases overshadow critical policy discussions and legal issues. The CAA-NRC coverage exemplified how some channels presented one-sided narratives, sensationalized issues, and amplified misinformation, leading to widespread polarization and social division.​

Misinformation, Fake News, and Paid Journalism

The digital age has exacerbated the spread of fake news and misinformation—with nearly 46% of India’s fake news being political in nature. Media practices including paid news and advertorials undermine credibility and erode the press’s ability to report impartially. The 2018 WhatsApp lynching incidents, triggered by false narratives about child kidnappers, demonstrate the deadly consequences of unchecked misinformation.​

Digital Suppression and Surveillance

Government use of the Information Technology Rules of 2021 has empowered authorities to summarily compel removal of online content without judicial oversight, imperiling freedom of expression and encryption security. Over 40 Indian journalists appeared on the Pegasus spyware targeting list, creating a chilling effect on free speech. Internet shutdowns, particularly in Kashmir and other sensitive regions, hamper journalists’ ability to work and disseminate information.​

Addressing the Paradox: The Way Forward

Indian media stands at a critical juncture. While it possesses tremendous potential to strengthen democracy, protect vulnerable populations, and expose wrongdoing, systemic pressures increasingly compromise this mandate. Addressing these challenges requires multifaceted interventions: strengthening editorial independence through autonomous media boards, implementing stringent regulations for media accountability, promoting media literacy among citizens to counter misinformation, empowering independent watchdogs, and diversifying media ownership to ensure pluralism.​

National Press Day 2025 serves as more than ceremonial observance—it represents a call to action for all stakeholders to recommit to the principles of fearless, fair, and free journalism. As a retired Supreme Court Justice noted, Indian media has “failed to defend democracy, the Constitution, and the truth” in recent years. Reclaiming this role is essential for democracy to flourish.

PIB 

SIMPLIFIED UPSC

Daily Insight