National Press Day is being observed on November 16

The National Press day is being observed on November 16. The day is observed every year to symbolise a free and responsible press.

Highlights

The day marks the establishment of Press Council of India. On this day, the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog in the year 1966. The press council of India ensures that the press maintains a high standards and is not fettered by any influence or threats.

How Press gets the freedom?

Article 19 of the Constitution of India provides for the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression. The freedom of press is derived from this article.

Press freedom in India

As per the Global Press Freedom Index, 2020 released in April 2020, India has ranked 140th out of 180 countries in context with the freedom to press. As per the report, the India’s rank in terms of press freedom has declined. The index highlights several reason for the decline of India’s performance. One of the major reason for the decline of India’s performance was that media and press in India works under the pressure to agree with the Nationalist Governments line. There were incident and instances of coordinated hate campaigns against the journalist who spoke on subjects that annoying the followers of any of the particular faith or party. So, there have been several restrictions on press and freedom press is violated in India. Press persons are often targeted by political activist. They are caught into police violence against journalist and they fall into the trap of attacks instigated by corrupt local officials or criminal groups.