**Summary:**
As of August 8, 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is in the process of constituting the 15th Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978. Nominations for several member categories, as outlined in Section 5 of the Act, have been received and/or finalized. The nomination process for thirteen working journalists (subsection 3a), including six editors and seven non-editor journalists, is currently sub judice before the Delhi High Court. Nominations from the Press Council for six individuals involved in newspaper management (subsection 3b) have been received. Nomination from the Press Council is awaited for one individual who manages news agencies (subsection 3c). Notifications have been issued for three members with expertise in education & science, law, and literature & culture (subsection 3d), nominated by the University Grants Commission, the Bar Council of India, and the Sahitya Academy, respectively. Nomination from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has been received for three Members of Parliament (subsection 3e), and notifications have been issued for the two Members of Parliament nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw submitted this information in the Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The Indian government ministry responsible for information dissemination and broadcasting regulations.
Press Council of India: A statutory body in India entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the freedom of the press and maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
Press Council Act, 1978: The legislation under which the Press Council of India is constituted and operates.
Delhi High Court: The High Court of Delhi, where the nomination process for working journalists is currently subjudice.
University Grants Commission: A statutory body that coordinates, determines and maintains standards of university education in India.
Bar Council of India: A statutory body that regulates and represents the legal profession in India.
Sahitya Academy: India's National Academy of Letters, an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India; also known as the Council of States.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Constitution Process of 15th Press Council of India
Underway; Majority of Nominations Finalised
Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 4:37PM by PIB Delhi
Press Council of India is constituted under the provisions of the Press Council Act, 1978.
Status of the constitution of 15th Press Council is as follows:
1. In terms of sub-section 3(a) of Section 5, thirteen members are to be nominated among the working
journalists of whom six shall be editors of newspapers and the remaining seven shall be working
journalists other than editors. The process of nomination of these members is sub-judice before the
Hon’ble Delhi High Court.
2. In terms of sub-section 3(b) of Section 5, six shall be nominated in accordance with such procedure as
may be prescribed from among persons who own or carry on the business of management of
newspapers. Government has received the nominations from the Press Council.
3. In terms of sub-section 3(c) of Section 5, one shall be nominated from among persons who manage
news agencies. Nomination from Press Council is awaited.
4. In terms of sub-section 3(d) of Section 5, three shall be persons having special knowledge or practical
experience in respect of education and science, law, and literature and culture of whom respectively one
shall be nominated by the University Grants Commission, one by the Bar Council of India and one by
the Sahitya Academy. Notification in respect of these members has been issued.
5. In terms of sub-section 3(e) of Section 5, five shall be members of Parliament of whom three shall be
nominated by the Speaker from among the members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and two
shall be nominated by the Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from among its members.
Nomination from the Speaker of the House of the People has been received. Notification in respect of
nominations made by the Chairman of the Council of States has been issued.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Ashwini
Vaishnaw in Rajya Sabha today
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Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith
(Release ID: 2154147)