New Delhi: The Union Government has reconstituted the 15th Press Council of India (PCI) by appointing 13 representatives from the journalism fraternity, ending a prolonged vacancy that had drawn criticism from media organizations and lawmakers alike. The move is being viewed as a significant step toward restoring the full representative character of India’s apex statutory body for print media oversight and press freedom.
The newly inducted members include six editors and seven working journalists representing newspapers and news agencies. Their inclusion completes the journalist category within the Council, which had remained vacant for several months, leaving the quasi-judicial body to function without direct representation from working journalists.
The issue had also reached Parliament, where several public representatives expressed concern over the delay in constituting a full-fledged Press Council after the previous council completed its term. Media organizations argued that a fully functional PCI is essential to safeguard press freedom, promote ethical journalism and address professional grievances within the industry.
The Press Council of India, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, comprises representatives from Parliament, the legal fraternity, academia, literary institutions, newspaper management and journalists. With the latest appointments, the Council now functions in its complete form and is scheduled to remain in office until December 2027.
The delay in appointments stemmed largely from legal objections raised by several journalist bodies regarding changes in the selection process for journalist representatives. Media associations had maintained that national journalist organizations, rather than regional press clubs, should play the central role in nominating representatives to the Council.
The development comes at a crucial time for India’s media industry, which continues to navigate economic challenges arising from shifting advertising revenues and the rapid growth of digital platforms. While traditional newspapers face increasing competition from television, online portals and social media-based news delivery systems, many industry observers believe print journalism continues to retain its credibility and relevance.
The reconstitution of the PCI has also reignited debate over expanding its jurisdiction. Several media professionals have advocated transforming the body into a Media Council of India, bringing television, radio and digital news platforms under a unified regulatory and ethical oversight framework.
Journalists and media experts contend that a stronger and more empowered council would be better equipped to address emerging challenges in the evolving media landscape while continuing to uphold the constitutional guarantee of press freedom. The latest appointments are therefore being seen not merely as an administrative exercise, but as an opportunity to strengthen media accountability, professional standards and democratic discourse in India.
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