Lok Sabha Question No. 3237 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Growth of Print Media
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3237 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2018)

## GROWTH OF PRINT MEDIA

3237.  SHRI RAJEEV SATAV, SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK AND DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- a)  Whether  Indian  Print  Media  including  regional  newspapers  especially  Marathi and Tamil have shown healthy growth in recent years and if so, the details of the number of newspaper published in the country including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, State-wise;
- b)  Whether the cases of fake news and alleged malpractices have been reported by certain  regional  newspapers  in  the  recent  years  and  if  so,  the  details  of  such cases reported and action taken thereon during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu;
- c)  Whether the Government has set up any statutory autonomous body to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers in the country and  if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)]

- (a) : The numbers of registered publication have been increasing. There is a similar  trend  for  Marathi  and  Tamil  Publications.  Data  showing  growth  rate  of registered  Newspapers  and  Periodicals  in  India  as  well  as  growth  in  Tamil  and Marathi is given at Annexure.
- (b) : Record of the cases of fake news and alleged mal-practices reported by regional news papers, is not maintained by the Government .

(c): To  preserve  the  freedom  of  the  press  and  to  maintain  and  improve  the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India and to inculcate principles of self-regulation among the press, the Government of India under the Press Council Act, 1978 has set up Press Council of India (PCI), an autonomous, statutory, quasi Judicial authority. In furtherance of its objectives, the PCI, under Section 13(2) of the Act has formulated 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct'.  The Council takes cognizance, suo-motu or on complaints, of the contents in print media which are in violation of the 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct.  As per Section 14 of the Act, the Council, after holding  an  inquiry,  may  warn,  admonish  or  censure  the  newspaper,  the  news agency,  the  editor  or  the  journalist  or  disapprove  the  conduct  of  the  editor  or  the journalist as the case may be.

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## Annexure referred in Part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3237 for reply on 15.03.2018

## Last Three Year Growth Rate of Registered Newspaper Marathi (Maharashtra)

| Financial Year   | Registered Newspaper/Periodical as on   |   Total Registered Newspaper/Periodical | %Growth   |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------|
| 2013-14          | 31.03.2014                              |                                    7023 |           |
| 2014-15          | 31.03.2015                              |                                    7680 | 9.35      |
| 2015-16          | 31.03.2016                              |                                    8242 | 7.32      |
| 2016-17          | 31.03.2017                              |                                    8474 | 2.81      |

## Tamil (Tamil Nadu)

| Financial Year   | Total Registered Newspaper/Periodica l as on   |   Total Registered Newspaper/Periodical | %Growth   |
|------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------|
| 2013-14          | 31.03.2014                                     |                                    3641 |           |
| 2014-15          | 31.03.2015                                     |                                    3842 | 5.52      |
| 2015-16          | 31.03.2016                                     |                                    4065 | 5.80      |
| 2016-17          | 31.03.2017                                     |                                    4202 | 3.37      |

## All India (Including all languages)

| Financial Year   | Total Registered Newspaper/Periodica l as on   | Total Registered Newspaper/Periodical   | %Growth   |
|------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------|
| 2013-14          | 31.03.2014                                     | 99,660                                  | -         |
| 2014-15          | 31.03.2015                                     | 1,05,443                                | 5.08      |
| 2015-16          | 31.03.2016                                     | 1,10,851                                | 5.13      |
| 2016-17          | 31.03.2017                                     | 1,14,820                                | 3.58      |