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I&B minister urges media restraint on sensitive issues
NEW DELHI: The minister of information & broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad has called upon the media, both print and electronic, to exercise self-restraint while reporting on sensitive matters like riots, terrorist activities and security related issues.
There has to be a proper blend in the freedom of expression and the citizens right to choice Prasad said. Inaugurating the new premises for the Press Council of India (PCI) at Soochna Bhawan here today, Prasad said that the Press Council has suggested some more powers to ensure that it decisions are implemented. These are being looked into but a holistic view has to be taken and the government has to ensure that it is not seen as reflection a press freedom.
He said that the government had no intention to exercise any control on press freedom. In this connection, he also said that the representation on PCI also has to be considered so that the oligarchy is not allowed and the representation is on a wide basis. This would give greater moral authority and respect to the Council.
The minister also pointed out to the debate on whether the newspapers should be treated as a commodity or institution. Should the editorials and the news items be sponsored or not? All these questions have to be addressed by the mediapersons to retain the credibility of the newspapers, he said.
Prasad said that the newspapers still have great reach and relevance despite the onslaught of the TV channels. India has about 50,000 newspapers published in 82 languages with a sixty million circulation of daily newspapers with a growth rate of five per cent.
The chairman of Press Council of India Justice Jayachandra Reddy called upon the newspapers to uphold the high traditions to emulate the great role they played during the freedom struggle. He also called for some sort of regulation for the electronic media, which at present is not bound by any norms, he said. The minister also launched the website of the Press Council on the occasion.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
