RAS question
National Press Day is celebrated on November 16 to mark the functioning of which body?
Correct answer: (A) Press Council of India.
National Press Day on November 16 commemorates the start of the Press Council of India, which began functioning on that date in 1966.
Explanation
National Press Day is anchored to the Press Council of India. The day marks the beginning of the Council on November 16, 1966, and the PIB backgrounder confirms that National Press Day, celebrated on November 16, marks the start of the Press Council of India. PIB also identifies the Council as an independent body whose role is to keep the press free from external influence while maintaining high standards of journalism. That institutional purpose explains why the commemorative date matters in governance questions: it is about the body created to connect press freedom with responsible journalism, not merely about the existence of newspapers or media in general.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) The Election Commission of India is not the body linked by the PIB backgrounder to National Press Day; November 16 is tied to the Press Council of India.
- (C) Broadcasting Corporation of India is not the institution identified by PIB as the body being commemorated; National Press Day marks the Press Council of India.
- (D) Information Commission is not the institution whose start is marked on National Press Day; the PIB backgrounder names the Press Council of India.
Concept
This tests governance institutions, especially statutory and autonomous bodies connected with democratic accountability. It recurs in RAS because a commemorative date often points to the function and significance of the institution behind it.