I&B Ministry
PMO directs MIB to withdraw guidelines on fake news
MUMBAI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has ordered the withdrawal of guidelines to crack down on journalists responsible for distributing fake news, a senior government official said today.
“The prime minister has directed that the press statement regarding fake news be withdrawn and the matter be addressed in the Press Council of India,” a senior official in Modi’s office told news agency Reuters. No reason was given.
On Monday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had issued a statement stating that noticing increasing instances of fake news in various mediums, including print and electronic, the guidelines for accreditation of journalists have been amended with penalties and punishment factored in.
News Broadcasters Association (NBA) issues a statement, welcomes 'the decision to let industry bodies i.e. NBA and the Press Council of India (PCI) decide all issues relating to “Fake News”, as first proposed by @smritiirani
— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 3, 2018
I welcome PMO's decision on not interfering with press accreditation guidelines. I urge upon industry colleagues to join hands to combat the proliferation of 'fake news'. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/yoWrOV7W8s
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) April 3, 2018
“On receiving any complaints of instances of fake news, the same would get referred to the Press Council of India (PCI) if it pertains to print media and to News Broadcasters Association (NBA) of India if it relates to electronic media for determination of the news item being fake or not,” the MIB statement had said, adding that the process would be completed within 15 days.
Even as the government announced amendments in the guidelines for accreditation of print and electronic or TV journalists outlining punishments for breaches on account of fake news, the intention was termed by stakeholders as debatably honourable but an indirect way to muzzle media freedom.
Welcoming the decision, News Broadcasters Association has issued a statement. The move has been lauded for letting industry bodies such as NBA and Press Council of India(PCI) to decide all Fake News related issues as it was proposed by Smriti Irani earlier.
Also Read: MIB issues stringent norms on fake news in TV & print media
I&B Ministry
Press Sewa Portal digitises 1.5 lakh records, streamlines periodical registrations: MIB
Online system spans 780 districts; Rs 5.6 crore penalties, 88,315 titles cancelled
NEW DELHI: India’s print media registry has quietly moved from dusty files to digital dashboards. The government has digitised more than 1.5 lakh historical records of newspapers and periodicals and shifted registrations fully online through the Press Sewa Portal.
Introduced under the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023, the portal now handles all applications for registering periodicals, replacing the earlier paper-heavy system created under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, which has since been repealed.
The digital shift brings a wide range of services onto a single platform. Publishers can now register new periodicals, revise registrations, transfer ownership, file annual statements, pay penalties online and apply for circulation verification without navigating government offices.
As part of the rollout, specified authorities in 780 districts across India have been onboarded onto the platform. Since 1 March 2024, the portal has processed 11,081 applications and issued certificates across different categories.
The transition has also brought stronger compliance. According to government data, Rs 5.63 crore in penalties has been collected through the portal so far. States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh account for some of the largest penalty collections.
At the same time, the authorities have carried out a major clean-up of inactive or non-compliant publications. A total of 88,315 periodicals have been cancelled nationwide, with Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi among the states reporting the highest number of cancellations.
The government says the system will continue to evolve based on feedback from users. The Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) regularly reviews suggestions to improve services and make compliance easier for publishers.
The full list of registered newspapers and periodicals is available on the PRGI website under the Registered Titles section.
The information was shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha by minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs L Murugan, responding to a question from Damodar Agrawal.
