Paid News in the spotlight
Distilled Policy Brief
- Paid news is defined by the Press Council of India as any news or analysis appearing in print or electronic media for consideration in cash or kind
- The Standing Committee on Information Technology has recommended that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting formulate a comprehensive legal definition of paid news and empower the Election Commission to enforce it during elections
- The Committee also urged the creation of a single statutory regulator for print and electronic media, with punitive powers and no media‑owner members, to curb paid news
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Key points for prelims: definition of paid news, committee’s recommendations for legal definition, need for a single statutory regulator, and empowerment of the Election Commission during elections.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Discuss the impact of paid news on democratic processes, the challenges in regulating it, and the policy measures proposed by the Standing Committee, including legal definition, regulatory reforms, and punitive provisions.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
According to the Standing Committee on Information Technology's report on paid news, which of the following measures was specifically recommended?
- [A] The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should formulate a comprehensive legal definition of paid news and empower the Election Commission to enforce it during elections.
- [B] Media‑owner representatives should be included as members of a new single statutory regulator for print and electronic media.
- [C] Punitive powers of existing bodies like the Press Council of India should be reduced to promote self‑regulation.
- [D] The Election Commission should be stripped of any authority to intervene in paid‑news cases during elections.
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
The Committee urged the MoIB to create a legal definition of paid news and to empower the Election Commission to enforce it during elections. The other options contradict the Committee's recommendations, which call for regulators without media‑owner members, stronger punitive powers, and enhanced, not reduced, ECI authority.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.