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Bring electronic, online media under ambit of a body: Markandey Katju
NEW DELHI: Press Council of India chairperson Justice Markandey Katju has again said that electronic as well as online media should be brought under the ambit of a body.
“The scope of Press Council of India (PCI) should be expanded by including the electronic media into its ambit,” Katju told reporters after chairing the PCI meeting in Panaji.
“The Press Council of India Act is dated 1966 when there was no television. Now there is a huge influence of television in our life. We have recommended that electronic media should also be brought under the ambit of the PCI,” he said.
It can be recalled that the Press Council of India Act was passed again in 1978 with some changes after Indira Gandhi had repealed it during the National Emergency in 1975.
Katju said that online media be also brought under the purview of the PCI which now covers only print media.
He also reiterated his demand for more powers to the Council. “The Parliamentary committee has also recommended that the PCI should have more powers. Currently, recommendations of the Parliamentary committee are under consideration,” Katju said.
He added that with the inclusion of electronic media, the number of members on PCI can also be increased thus giving proper representation to the newly-included sector.
“Right now there are 20 members from print. We can include 20 more from the electronic media,” Katju said.
Responding to a query, he said that the Council should be a regulatory body and not the controlling one. “I am against the controls. I am in favour of regulations. No freedom is absolute. Regulations have to be there,” Katju concluded.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
