The National Press Day is annually observed across India on November 16th to mark the presence of an independent and responsible press in India. The day also aims to highlight the importance of the independent press, the 4th pillar of democracy.
- The National Press Day marks the day on which the Press Council of India(PCI) came into effect in 1966.
Background:
i.The first Press Commission (1954) concluded that a statutory authority body with people connected with the industry should be created to maintain professional ethics in journalism.
ii.This led to the creation of the Press Council of India(PCI) which was established on 4th July 1966 under the Press Council Act of 1978. It came into effect on 16th November 1966.
iii.Justice J.R Mudholkar (then a Judge of Supreme Court) was appointed as the first Chairman of PCI.
World Press Freedom Index 2021:
i.According to the World Press Freedom Index 2021, with a score of 46.56, India has ranked 142 among 180 countries.
ii.Norway topped the index followed by Finland and Sweden.
iii.According to Reporters without borders, in India 4 journalists were killed during 2021.
iv.India has been categorised as “Bad” for journalism and among dangerous countries for journalists. India shares the bad classification with Brazil, Mexico and Russia.
Press Council of India(PCI):
i.The Press Council of India was first set up in the year 1966 by the Parliament on the recommendations of the First Press Commission.
ii.It is a statutory, quasi-judicial authority functioning as a watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press.
About Press Council of India(PCI):
Chairman- Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi