GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions
Source: TH
Context: The Parliament has passed the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, simplifying the title allotment and registration process for periodicals.
Highlights of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill (PRPB), 2023:
| Highlights | Details |
| Grant of Title Allotment and Certificate of Registration for Periodicals | Introduces a simple online mechanism for title verification and registration simultaneously. |
| Eliminates the need for furnishing declarations or authentication by local authorities. | |
| Prohibits individuals convicted of offences involving terrorism or activities against state security from publishing periodicals. | |
| Allows printing facsimile editions of foreign periodicals in India with prior Central Government approval and registration with the Press Registrar General. | |
| Facsimile editions refer to exact reproductions or copies of an original publication, typically a book, document, or periodical. | |
| Printing Presses | Requires printers to provide online intimation to the Press Registrar General and local authorities. |
| Removes the obligation for printers to file declarations or obtain authentication from authorities. | |
| Role of District Magistrate/Local Authority | District Magistrate/local authority plays a minimal role in the grant of Certificate of Registration and title allotment. |
| District Magistrate provides comments/No Objection Certificate to the Press Registrar General within 60 days of receiving an application. | |
| Press Registrar General can proceed with the registration decision even if comments/No Objection Certificate are not received within 60 days. | |
| Eliminates the requirement for publishers to file declarations before the District Magistrate. |
The current PRPB Act 1867 was aimed at curbing what the British Government thought was the role of the press in the “revolt of 1857”. It was introduced during the Viceroyship of Lord John Lawrence (1864-1869)
Difference between the two:
| Difference | Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 | PRP Bill, 2023 |
| Registration of Periodicals | Provides for the registration of newspapers, periodicals, and books, including its cataloguing | The bill includes any publication containing public news or comments on public news. But Periodicals do not include books or scientific and academic journals. |
| Registration of Printing Press | Required a printing press to be declared before the DM. | Information can be submitted through the online portal |
| Punishment | Minor violations have the provision of imprisonment for up to six months. | The bill decriminalizes violations under the Act. For certain violations, financial penalties have been proposed |
| Appeal | No appeal authority | Provides for the Press and Registration Appellate Board. Aggrieved persons can appeal to the board within 60 days. |
| Cancellation | As per the act, only the DM could cancel the declaration of a periodical | The bill empowers the Press Registrar General to suspend/cancel the Certificate of Registration. |
Benefits:
The new law aims to expedite the title registration process, reducing the time from 2-3 years to just 60 days, benefiting small and medium publishers. The Press Registrar General will play a key role in fast-tracking the process, eliminating the need for publishers to file declarations with local authorities.
Press rules during British Times:
The British introduced the printing press in India and multiple publications were brought out by both Indians and non-Indians. Both Indians and the British realized the potential of the press and while Indians sought to use it for generating awareness, the British sought to curb it.
One of the earliest publications was the Bengal Gazette, which was seized in 1872 for its outspoken criticism. This is just the beginning of multiple setbacks to be faced by the Indian Press.
Setbacks Faced by Press
- Censorship of Press Act, 1799 was passed to impose wartime press restrictions as Wellesley anticipated French invasion.
- Licensing Regulations 1823 was passed, which stated that starting a press without a license was a penal offence. This was mostly directed against Indian publications.
- Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code introduced in 1870 provided for the offence of Any words signs or visible representations that could create any disaffection towards the British government were made a criminal offence.
- The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was passed to control the publication in vernacular language. Under this law, the Magistrate was given extensive powers.
- The Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908 empowered Magistrates to confiscate press property if they believed it could incite violence.
- The Indian Press Act of 1910 imposed high-security deposits.
- Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act 1931 was enacted to suppress political propaganda during the Civil Disobedience Movement. In addition to this, the Criminal Law Amendment of 1932 and the Official Secrets Act imposed further restrictions.
- The Press Regulating Act of 1942 made the registration of journalists mandatory.
As a result of these restrictive laws, the Indian Press suffered. Multiple publications were seized and many journalists/nationalists were arrested. For instance, Surendranath Banerjee was the first Indian journalist to be imprisoned. Similarly, Tilak was arrested after the murder of Rand stating that his publication ‘Shivaji Utterances’ incited the act.
Contribution of the Indian Press
It was realized by nationalists that the Press is a good medium through which they can reach the masses, generate opinion and mobilize them. The Hindu, The Bengalee, Voice of India, and Amrita Bazaar Patrika among others are some examples of Indian publications. Their role or contribution can be summarized as follows:
- Raised the political consciousness of the masses.
- The impact was so widespread that it reached even the remotest of villages.
- Newspaper articles and editorials were read and discussed in local libraries.
- The press acted as an institution of opposition to the government.
- They helped the masses understand the true nature of British Rule.
- Indian Press adopted innovative methods to circumvent the restrictions such as becoming English newspapers overnight to not attract Vernacular Press Laws or publishing artists printed by Irish nationalists etc.
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