New media accreditation guidelines stoke concerns around free speech

Accreditation allows journalists access to government offices in the capital. It's also often required to cover events like high-level bilateral meetings

India has tightened rules for journalists by allowing government officials to deny accreditation based on public order and morality, adding to worries about falling free speech standards in the world’s largest democracy.
 

The new federal government guidelines, set out on the website of the Press Information Bureau, show that journalists can lose accreditation if their actions are “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement of an offence.” 

The PIB accreditation allows journalists access to government