**Summary of Press Council of India Activity and Council Composition**
On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting provided an update regarding the Press Council of India (PCI) in response to parliamentary questions in the Rajya Sabha. The following data points and administrative details were highlighted:
**Pending Complaints**
As of January 2026, the PCI reported a total of 1,077 pending complaints, categorized by duration:
* **1-2 years:** 463 complaints
* **2-5 years:** 301 complaints
* **Over 5 years:** 313 complaints
**Disciplinary Actions**
Between the fiscal years 2020-21 and 2024-25, the Council exercised its statutory powers to "censure" or "admonish" offenders in 48 instances.
**Council Composition and Governance**
* **Structure:** The PCI consists of one Chairperson and 28 members.
* **15th Council Notifications:** 14 members of the 15th Press Council have been officially notified through Gazette notifications dated December 19, 2024, and December 2, 2025.
* **Quorum:** Under Regulation 4 of the Press Council (Procedure for Conduct of Meetings and Business) Regulations, 1979, the quorum required to conduct meetings is 11 members.
**Administrative Information**
* **Submitted By:** Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting.
* **Context:** Response to questions raised by Shri Saket Gokhale in the Rajya Sabha.
* **Release ID:** 2246083 (PIB Delhi).
* **Contact/Reference:** Mahesh Kumar/Vivek Vishwash.
Key Entities Referenced
Press Council of India: The statutory body responsible for maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies, which exercised powers to 'censure' or 'admonish' offenders in 48 instances over five years.
Press Council (Procedure for Conduct of Meetings and Business) Regulations, 1979: The legal framework governing the procedural conduct and quorum requirements for meetings of the Council.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The primary ministry overseeing the Press Council of India and responsible for notifying its members.
Dr. L. Murugan: The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting who submitted official data regarding pending complaints and Council membership to the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Press Council Acts on 48 Cases in Last Five
Years; 14 Members Notified for 15th Council
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 4:40PM by PIB Delhi
The total number of complaints pending with the Press Council of India as of January 2026, categorised
by those pending for over one, two and five years are as under:
Period No. of complaints pending with PCI
1-2 years 463
2-5 years 301
>5 years 313
Total 1077
In the last five years (from 2020-21 to 2024-25), the Council exercised its powers to ‘censure’ or
‘admonish’ offenders in 48 instances.
The Press Council of India consists of a Chairperson and 28 members. Out of 28 members, 14 members
of 15th Press Council have been notified vide Gazette notifications dated 19.12.2024 and 02.12.2025. The
quorum for conducting meetings of the Council is 11 members, as per Regulation 4 of the Press Council
(Procedure for Conduct of Meetings and Business) Regulations, 1979.
This Information was submitted by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L.
Murugan in the Rajya Sabha today in response of questions asked by Shri Saket Gokhale.
***
Mahesh Kumar/ Vivek Vishwash
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