Government of India is all set to bring in legislation to regulate the Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, 2019, which will include the Digital News Media industry for the first time.
The Cabinet proposes to bring digital news portals at par with newspapers.
Lok Sabha Secretariat release a list of Bills deem to be introduce and pass in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The most crucial is The Press Registration Periodicals Bill, 2022.
The Bill seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 which covers the ambit of newspapers and printing presses in India.
As per government sources, the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to approve this Bill soon.
This idea drew a lot of criticism with assumptions that this Bill would try to curtail the Freedom of Speech and Expression on digital media.
Detail consultations have already held with various stakeholders regarding the Bill.
There is no such process to register digital news portals like newspapers but this Bill proposes to register them with the Press Registrar General, the equivalent of the prevalent Registrar of Newspapers in India.
Digital news publishers have to apply for registration within 90 days of the law coming into effect, which is being propose.
This is the first time that digital media in India will have regulations.
If the Bill is clear, digital media will be regulate by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
