{"id":2292,"date":"2026-10-13T20:59:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/press-freedom-india-explained\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T21:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:48:26","slug":"press-freedom-india-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/press-freedom-india-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Freedom in India: Article 19, Press Council and the Laws That Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: October 2026 \u00b7 3 min read<\/em><\/p>\n

India’s Constitution does not mention the press separately, but the Supreme Court has held that freedom of the press<\/b> is part of the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a)<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\"Infographic:
Press Freedom in India: Article 19, Press Council and the Laws That Matter \u2013 infographic by Tiwaripedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Constitutional basis<\/h2>\nArticle 19(1)(a)<\/b> guarantees every citizen freedom of speech and expression. Article 19(2)<\/b> allows reasonable restrictions in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.\n

Landmark Supreme Court cases<\/h2>\n
Case<\/th>Year<\/th>Principle<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras<\/td>1950<\/td>Freedom of speech includes freedom of circulation<\/td><\/tr>
Sakal Papers v. Union of India<\/td>1962<\/td>Limits on pages or price can violate press freedom<\/td><\/tr>
Bennett Coleman v. Union of India<\/td>1973<\/td>Newsprint controls cannot curb free expression<\/td><\/tr>
Indian Express Newspapers v. Union of India<\/td>1985<\/td>Press freedom is vital to democracy; taxes must not cripple it<\/td><\/tr>
Shreya Singhal v. Union of India<\/td>2015<\/td>Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act as vague<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n

The Press Council of India<\/h2>\n

The Press Council of India (PCI)<\/b>, a statutory body under the Press Council Act, 1978, safeguards press freedom and maintains standards in print journalism. It can warn or censure newspapers but cannot impose fines. Television and digital media fall outside its scope.<\/p>\n

Laws journalists must know<\/h2>\n