Ahead of the 2025 Delhi and state assembly bye-elections, the Press Council of India issued strict guidelines to curb “Paid News”. The PCI warned that publishing identical political news across competing papers, or highlighting voters on a caste basis to favor a candidate, strongly suggests financial consideration. The Bharat Media Association urges all district editors to adhere strictly to the 2022 Norms of Journalistic Conduct. Disguising political advertising as editorial content destroys regional media credibility and manipulates rural voters.