International Research Journal of Education and Technology

India’s media landscape is characterized by an evolving interplay between journalistic freedom, regulatory autonomy, and growing public skepticism. This paper critically examines the fragmented nature of India's media self-regulation regime, focusing on institutions like the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) and the Press Council of India (PCI). Through a doctrinal and institutional analysis, it evaluates their legal standing, enforcement capacity, and normative influence. The study highlights a growing trust deficit stemming from voluntary compliance, overlapping mandates, and lack of statutory backing, which undermine public accountability and media ethics. It also explores judicial responses and policy debates around proposed statutory alternatives. Ultimately, the paper argues that without structural consolidation and legally enforceable mechanisms, India’s media self-regulation risks further erosion of both credibility and constitutional balance between press freedom and responsibility.

Index Terms Media self-regulation, India media law, News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), Press Council of India (PCI), Media accountability, Legal efficacy