Press Laws Chronology

Press Laws/Media Laws are very important for any mass communication student. Media Laws form an important part of any mass communication course. Even in UGC-NET Syllabus and entire unit (unit 6) is dedicated to Press Laws and Ethics. In the previous NET examinations, a number of questions were dedicated to Press Laws and Ethics. These questions are sometimes based on a particular law itself and sometimes they give chronology. Thus, apart from knowing the laws itself, it is important to know their chronology, which is quite common these days. Reasoning and Assertion based questions are also given sometimes based on Press Laws.

Thus, let’s discuss the chronology of important Press Laws in India.

1. Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 
2. Official Secrets Act, 1923
3. Cinematograph Act, 1952
4. Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 
5. Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 
6. Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act, 1956 
7. Copyright Act, 1957 
8. Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 
9. Press Council Act, 1978 
10. Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 
11. Schedule Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
12. Prasar Bharati Act, 1990
13. Cable TV Networks Rule, 1994
14. Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995
15. Information Technology Act, 2000 
16. Right to Information Act, 2005
17. Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2006

Apart from these there are Press Laws that were present during the British era and later repealed when India gained Independence. We will discuss about it in another post.