Government committed to welfare of journalists, says Minister

The Government of India is committed to the payment of journalists, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan said successful the Lok Sabha connected Wednesday (December 10, 2025).

In a effect to questions from Lok Sabha MPs Arvind Ganpat Sawant and Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Mr. Murugan said the Central Bureau of Communications (CBC) issues print media advertisements transparently, and has precocious accrued advertizing rates by up to 26%. “Nominations to the committees of the CBC, PIB (Press Information Bureau), and Press Council of India are made arsenic per the corresponding argumentation guidelines,” helium said.

Journalists accredited with the PIB are covered nether the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facilities crossed the state for themselves and their household members, including their attraction astatine government/CGHS empanelled backstage hospitals astatine CGHS rates.

“The authorities implements the Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWS) to supply one-time ex gratia alleviation to journalists/media unit oregon their families successful cases of utmost hardship owed to the decease of a journalist. Relief is besides extended to journalists who endure from imperishable disablement oregon are diagnosed with large listed ailments. Financial enactment is further provided to journalists who look superior injuries owed to accidents requiring hospitalisation,” Mr. Murugan said.

Journalists accredited with the PIB oregon with the governments of States oregon Union Territories, arsenic good arsenic non-accredited journalists, are covered nether this scheme, helium said. “Under the JWS scheme, the authorities has provided fiscal assistance to 402 journalists/media unit oregon their families from 2014-15 to 2024-25,” helium added.

As regards the practice received from ‘Manyata Praapt Patrakar Kalyan Samiti Delhi’, the Minister said newspapers successful India are registered nether the Press and Periodicals Registration Act, 2023, and its 2024 Rules, with the Press Seva Portal providing an easy, accessible online strategy for registration.