It is a statutory body consisting of 28 members representing editors, working journalists, owners of big, medium and small newspapers, news agencies, MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, specialists in law, education, literature, science and culture.
This body has the power to warn, admonish and censure any editor or journalist who flouts the standards of journalistic ethics or public taste. It has the powers of civil court.
The Press Council of India has been established to preserve the freedom of the press and to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies.
It prescribes the code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists in accordance with high professional standards.