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Context:

National Press Day, observed on 16 November, commemorates the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI) and celebrates the crucial role of a free and responsible press in sustaining democracy. The day recognizes the media’s function as the fourth pillar of democracy, shaping public opinion, promoting transparency, and holding power accountable.

Current Status:

India’s media sector has expanded significantly, with registered publications rising from 60,143 in 2004–05 to 1.54 lakh in 2024–25.

Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act 2023 and the Press Sewa Portal, have digitized and streamlined periodical registration, onboarded 40,000 publishers, and registered 3,000 printing presses within six months, enhancing ease of doing business.

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What are the roles did press played during freedom struggle?

Instrument in political awakening: The press transformed scattered grievances into a shared national cause. Through editorials, pamphlets, and journals, it explained colonial policies, exposed injustices, and articulated the idea of Swaraj. It educated ordinary Indians about their rights and responsibilities, nurturing an informed citizenry capable of resisting colonial rule.

Helps in building identitiy: The press helped create a pan-Indian identity that transcended linguistic, regional, and social divisions. Newspapers like Kesari, Amrita Bazar Patrika, The Hindu, and Bengalee became platforms for nationalist ideas, uniting people under common symbols, shared history, and collective aspirations.

Helps in ideological exchange: The freedom struggle was not monolithic. Moderate, extremist, Gandhian, socialist, and revolutionary viewpoints all found expression in the press. This open debate sharpened political strategies, helped refine national goals, and allowed ideas to circulate even under censorship.

Social reform and mobilisation: Beyond political independence, the press challenged social evils—untouchability, illiteracy, child marriage, gender inequality—helping prepare society for nationhood. Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jyotiba Phule, and others used newspapers to shape progressive opinion and mobilize communities for change.

Exposing colonial exploitation: The vernacular press systematically revealed economic drain, oppressive laws, racial discrimination, and atrocities committed by British administration. These revelations created moral pressure on the colonial state and strengthened the legitimacy of national resistance.

Non-Cooperation and mass movements: During Gandhian movements, the press became a powerful tool for inspiring collective action. Newspapers publicized programmes of non-cooperation, civil disobedience, Swadeshi, boycott, and constructive work. They transformed local protests into nationwide campaigns.

Link between leaders and the masses: Newspapers served as the bridge between national leaders and the public. They carried speeches, resolutions, Congress debates, and Gandhiji’s weekly messages in Young India and Harijan, making politics participatory and accessible.

Internationalising India’s struggle: Indian and foreign journals publicized the freedom struggle globally—highlighting issues like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, salt satyagraha, and civil liberties violations. International pressure added moral weight to India’s cause.

What was the British reaction to the press during India’s Freedom struggle?

Press as a threat for Britishers: The British increasingly saw newspapers as catalysts of political agitation. With the rise of vernacular publications reaching rural populations, the press became a mass-based challenge to colonial authority. The state thus considered it necessary to regulate, monitor, and suppress newspapers perceived as “seditious.”

Legislation to control expression

To contain nationalist ideas, the British enacted a series of laws designed to curb freedom of the press:

• Vernacular Press Act (1878): Specifically targeted Indian-language newspapers, allowing the government to confiscate their printing equipment without trial.
• Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act (1908): Gave wide powers to punish press that encouraged nationalist or revolutionary activities.
• Press Act (1910): Imposed heavy securities and allowed forfeiture of press machinery for publishing “objectionable material.”
  These laws reflected a systematic attempt to dismantle the growing influence of the Indian press. 

Imposing censorships: The British set up mechanisms to closely monitor nationalist writings. Editors, reporters, and printing presses were placed under watch. Pre-censorship was imposed during periods of unrest, especially after the 1857 Revolt, during the Swadeshi movement, and again during World War I and II. Police report routinely documented “seditious” articles, and newspapers were required to submit copies for official scrutiny.

Frequent prosecution: Editors, journalists, and owners were frequently prosecuted under sedition laws (e.g., Section 124A of IPC). Heavy fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of printing presses became common tools of intimidation. Many nationalist publications survived only through public donations and solidarity campaigns.

Attempt to divide the press: Along with repression, the colonial state attempted softer strategies—supporting loyalist newspapers, offering subsidies and advertisements, and encouraging publications that praised British rule. This created a landscape where pro-establishment press coexisted with the nationalist press, each battling for influence. 

Post Independence press development in India:

Transition from colonial control to constitutional freedom: After Independence, the press moved from a climate of restrictive colonial laws to a framework grounded in constitutional guarantees.

• Article 19(1)(a) provided freedom of speech and expression, implicitly ensuring freedom of the press. 

Nation-Building and Developmental Orientation (1950s–60s): In the early decades, the press adopted a development-oriented and nation-building role, acted as a bridge between the government and citizens in disseminating development plans. 

Press Regulation, the First Amendment & Parliamentary Debates: Concerns over public order led to First Constitutional Amendment (1951) introducing “reasonable restrictions.” The 1950s saw debates on press control vs. press freedom with key court judgments like Romesh Thappar and Brij Bhushan. This formed the foundational jurisprudence on press liberty. 

Expansion of Print Media & Rise of Vernacular Press (1960s–80s): The spread of literacy, cheaper printing technology, and political mobilization led to a major rise of regional and vernacular newspapers. Press became more mass-based, accessible, and politically impactful. 

Liberalization & Emergence of Private Media (1990s onwards): Economic reforms transformed media explosion of private television channels, 24×7 news cycles, and corporatized media houses. 

What are the key challenges of press in India?

• Political pressure and threats to editorial independence: Governments and political actors often influence media narratives through advertising leverage, legal actions, or informal pressure.
• Corporate ownership and commercialization: Increasing concentration of media ownership among large corporate houses leads to profit-driven journalism.
• Spread of misinformation and disinformation: Social media amplification, rapid content cycles, and unverified reporting contribute to widespread misinformation.
• Declining financial sustainability: Traditional print media faces declining advertising revenues and shrinking readership.
• Safety and security of journalists: Journalists in India often face harassment, threats, violence, or strategic lawsuits (SLAPP) while reporting sensitive issues such as corruption, crime, land, or politics. 

Key institutions of Press:

• Press Council of India (PCI): Established under the 1978 Act to preserve press freedom and uphold journalistic ethics. PCI also issues Norms of Journalistic Conduct, addresses complaints, promotes training, international cooperation, and inclusivity.

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• Press Registrar General of India (PRGI): Formerly RNI, oversees periodical registration, ensuring transparency and modernization of the registration process.

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• Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC): Provides journalism education and training, now a deemed university, offering multilingual and advanced programs to foster skilled media professionals.

Legal and Welfare Framework

• Working Journalists Act, 1955: Regulates journalist employment conditions, wages, and service rights.
• Employees’ Provident Fund & ESI Acts: Extend social security benefits to media personnel.
• Journalist Welfare Scheme: Provides financial assistance for health emergencies, accidents, and extreme hardships.
• Press Sewa Portal: The Press Sewa Portal, developed under the PRP Act, 2023 by PRGI, has ushered in a fully digitized and paperless system for the registration and regulation of periodicals. By automating all procedures, the portal has enhanced transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business in the publishing sector.

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Awards and Recognition: National Press Day also honours excellence in journalism through awards like the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award, highlighting exemplary contributions across print media.

Conclusion:

The press in India has evolved into a vital pillar of democracy, expanding from limited post-Independence coverage to today’s diverse print, broadcast, and digital ecosystem. Despite challenges such as commercialization, misinformation, and political pressure, it continues to play a key role in informing citizens, safeguarding accountability, and strengthening democratic institutions. Ensuring freedom, ethical standards, and technological adaptation remains essential for its credibility and effectiveness in the future.

Source: PIB