The Union government is reviving its plan to replace the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, which regulates the printing presses and the newspapers in the country.
The proposed bill, Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, will bring under its ambit the digital media and news portals as well.
The bill reportedly proposes to include "news on digital media through any electronic device."
The government had plans to introduce the bill in 2019, but it wasn't taken forward. According to an Economic Times report, the proposed bill seeks to bring digital news platforms on par with newspapers. Such platforms will be asked to register themselves under Press Registrar General.
NDTV reported that under the amended law, digital media, which hasn't yet been defined by any law or regulation so far, will now face punitive action for "violations". The Press Registrar General will have the power to act against the digital media houses in case of such violations.
The inter-ministerial consultations and talks with other stakeholders have reportedly been completed on the bill and it is expected to be up for cabinet nod following which it will be tabled in the Parliament.