The Press Council of India (PCI) – a statutory body for the regulation of the print media in India – received 468 ‘paid news’ complaints in the past four years, with a significant surge in 2024-25, according to media reports. 290 cases were recorded in 2024-25 alone, the highest in print media to date, L. Murugan, minister of state for information and broadcasting, said in Parliament.
The ministry says the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established dedicated mechanisms at national, state, and district levels to handle such complaints.
Murugan was responding to an unstarred question raised by BJP Member of Parliament Chandra Prakash Joshi, media reports said.
In 2021-22, 74 cases were reported; in 2022-23 there were 76 cases. In 2023-24, the number came down to 28 whereas in 2024-25, 290 cases were reported so far.
Rajasthan has reported the highest number of paid news complaints accounting for 13 complaints in 2021-22 which rose to 111 in 2024-25.
Murugan said the PCI takes action on a case-by-case basis. The council is authorized to warn, admonish, or censure the concerned newspaper, news agency, editor, or journalist. In severe cases, it may disapprove the conduct of the editor or journalist as per the Press Council of India Act, 1978.
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