The Center plans to introduce new legislation, the Press and Periodicals Registration Bill, which aims to regulate the digital news media industry.
The proposed law will replace the British Press and Book Registration Act 1867, which currently regulates printing presses and newspapers in India.
“The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is bringing (a) a new law to make digital news websites on par with newspapers. The department has completed all consultations on the matter. He will soon bring the Bill before the Union Cabinet. Once the Cabinet approves the Bill, it will likely be tabled in the monsoon session of Parliament which starts on July 18,” a senior ministry official said.
The proposed legislation will place digital news media under the control of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Once the law is approved by Parliament, digital media companies will have to register with the Registrar General of the Press within 90 days. The Press Registration General shall have the power to take action against publications for violations, and may suspend or cancel registrations and impose penalties.
An appellate body will be proposed and its chairman will be the chairman of the Press Council of India, the official said.
Currently, there is no such registration system for digital news portals.
The government in 2019 had tabled a Press and Periodicals Registration Bill to bring all digital news platforms under the registration framework, which caused a huge row.
Even promoters of digital news portals have alleged that the government is trying to control digital media.
The government now says it has also carried out consultations with other ministries and stakeholders. Soon it will be sent to Cabinet for approval, the official said.
