SSC
In India, National Press Day is observed on:
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Answer: Option D — 16 November
Detailed Solution
National Press Day is observed in India every year on 16 November to celebrate a free and responsible press.
Why 16 November:
The Press Council of India (PCI) began functioning on 16 November 1966.
The PCI was set up on the recommendation of the First Press Commission (1954), chaired by Justice G. S. Rajadhyaksha.
About the Press Council of India:
- It was first established in 1966 under the Press Council Act, 1965.
- It was abolished during the Emergency in 1976 and re-established under the Press Council Act, 1978.
- It is a statutory, quasi-judicial body that works as a watchdog of the press.
- Its aims are to preserve the freedom of the press and to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
It can hear complaints against the press for violating journalistic ethics, and against the government or others for interfering with press freedom. It can warn, admonish or censure, but it cannot impose penalties.
It is headed by a Chairman, who by convention is a retired judge of the Supreme Court, and has 28 other members.
Press freedom in the Constitution:
Freedom of the press is not mentioned separately; it is part of the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), as held by the Supreme Court (for example, in Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras, 1950).
Other press-related days and facts:
- World Press Freedom Day: 3 May (declared by the UN General Assembly in 1993), marking the Windhoek Declaration (1991).
- Hindi Journalism Day: 30 May (the first Hindi newspaper "Udant Martand" was published on 30 May 1826 from Calcutta by Jugal Kishore Shukla).
- National Safety Day: 4 March.
- The first newspaper in India was James Augustus Hicky's "Bengal Gazette" (also called "Hicky's Bengal Gazette"), started on 29 January 1780 in Calcutta.
- The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) registers newspapers; it was renamed the Press Registrar General of India under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023.
Why not the other options?
- ✗3 May is World Press Freedom Day.
- ✗30 May is Hindi Journalism Day.
- ✗4 March is National Safety Day.
Quick tip
Remember: National Press Day = 16 November (Press Council of India began functioning, 1966); World Press Freedom Day = 3 May; Hindi Journalism Day = 30 May ("Udant Martand", 1826).
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Important Days & Dates — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Important Days & Dates, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers national and international days observed through the year, such as National Youth Day, World Environment Day and International Yoga Day, along with the themes announced for them and the events or people they commemorate. Questions ask for the date of a day, the day observed on a given date, or the person it honours (for example, National Sports Day on 29 August marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand). Revise days month by month in a calendar format. Themes change every year, so learn the current year's themes from current affairs. Practise the important days questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.