Assertion (A): The Press Council of India must be converted into a media council is a matter of opinion.

Reason (R): Since the reach and access of electronic media have increased tremendously, there are issues to be considered involving all of them. 

(A) Both (A) and (R) are true.

(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.

(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true. 

Correct Ans: (A)

Explanation:

The Press Council of India (PCI) regulates print media and ensures journalistic ethics. Many experts believe India should expand PCI’s role to include electronic and digital media. This idea remains subjective, as some think existing bodies like NBSA already regulate electronic media effectively.

At the same time, electronic media’s reach has grown significantly. As a result, challenges like fake news, sensationalism, and ethical breaches have increased. Some experts argue a unified regulatory body covering all media platforms would improve fairness and transparency. However, this reason does not directly justify why PCI must become a media council. Different media formats have separate regulatory mechanisms, making a complete merger complex.

Since both the assertion and reason are true, but the reason does not fully explain the assertion, the correct answer is (A). Although the expansion of media requires stricter regulations, the decision to convert PCI into a media council remains open to discussion. India must evaluate the benefits and challenges before making this transformation.