NationalThursday, 8 October 2026·The Hindu - National
Press Council of India reconstituted in October 2026 with 13 new members under Press Council Act, 1978
The Centre reconstituted the Press Council of India on 8 October 2026 by nominating 13 members under the Press Council Act, 1978.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On 8 October 2026, the Central Government reconstituted the Press Council of India (PCI) under Section 5(3)(a) and Section 6(1) of the Press Council Act, 1978, adding 13 nominated members to the statutory body headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (retd).
Key specifics
- The PCI is a statutory autonomous body created under the Press Council Act, 1978 (37 of 1978).
- It is headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (retd) and has 14 members in all.
- The council includes 5 MPs, 6 representatives from newspaper owners, and 3 experts from the BCI, UGC and Sahitya Akademi.
- The government nominated 6 editors and 7 working journalists as members in October 2026.
- The PCI’s mandate is to preserve press freedom and improve standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
Exam lens
Polity and statutory bodies, Press Council Act, 1978, Section 5(3)(a), Section 6(1), 14-member composition, 5 MPs, 6 owners, 3 experts — TNPSC may ask match-the-following or legal-basis questions on press regulation.