Lok Sabha Question No. 3798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: World Press Freedom Index
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari, Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, S. Jothimani, Margani Bharat, Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. 3798 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21-12-2021

## WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX

3798. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI: SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN: MS. S. JOTHIMANI: SHRI MARGANI BHARAT: SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  India  ranked  142  out  of  180  countries listed in the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders in 2021, dropping two spots from 2020, remains bad, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has ascertained/identified the reasons for the same, if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken in this regards;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  incidents  reported  in  Tripura  where police  booked  102  people  including  journalists  under  the  Unlawful  Activities (Prevention) Act, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Editors  Guild  of  India  (EGI)  has  objected  on  such  a  harsh  law  for penalizing the journalists for merely reporting on and protesting against communal violences, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government has taken steps to protect  the  safety  and freedom of journalists, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) & (b) The World Press Freedom Index is published by a foreign NonGovernment-Organization, 'Reporters Without Borders'. The Government does not subscribe to its views and country rankings and does  not  agree  to  the  conclusions  drawn  by  this  organisation  for various reasons including very low sample size, little or no weightage to  fundamentals  of  democracy,  adoption  of  a  methodology  which  is questionable  and  non-transparent,  lack  of  clear  definition  of  press freedom etc.

The Government is committed to ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under the Article 19 of the Constitution of India. Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body, has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the Press and improve the standards of  newspapers  and  news  agencies  in  the  country.  PCI  considers complaints filed 'by the Press' concerning curtailment of press freedom, physical assault/ attack on journalists etc. under Section 13 of the Press Council Act 1978. PCI is also empowered to take suo-motu cognizance in matters on the pressing issues concerning freedom of Press and safeguarding of its high standards.

The Central Government implements a Journalists Welfare Scheme under which financial assistance is provided to journalists and their families in cases of death, accidents, etc.

(c)  to  (e)    'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies. Central  Government  attaches  highest  importance  to  the  safety and  security  of  every  citizen  of  the  country  including  journalists.  An advisory specifically on safety of journalists was issued to States/ UTs on  20 th   October  2017  requesting  them  to  strictly  enforce  the  law  to ensure the safety and security of media persons, which is available on the website www.mha.gov.in.

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