Thumbnail: Viksit Haryana | PIB–CBC integration — MIB order of 12 November 2026
Government news, advertisements and publicity will now come from a single organisation. On 12 November 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered the functional integration of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) into one unified organisation called PIB.
The integration has taken effect immediately. In the first phase, the two bodies will merge at the headquarters level, while the process at the state and branch levels will follow step by step.
Quick Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Order issued | 12 November 2026 |
| Issued by | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) |
| Merger | PIB + CBC → one organisation, named PIB |
| Effective | With immediate effect (headquarters level) |
| New head | Director General (Coordination), PIB, New Delhi |
| State/branch level | In a phased manner |
Why were PIB and CBC merged?
According to the ministry’s office memorandum, the aim is to bring both bodies under a common administrative structure so that the government’s communication, advertising, publicity, research, fact-checking and social media work is coordinated under one leadership. PIB carries government information to the print and electronic media through press releases, while CBC handles advertising and public outreach campaigns — both will now sit under one roof.
Who will head the new organisation?
The combined organisation will be headed by the Director General (Coordination), PIB, New Delhi, who will report to the Chairman of the Communication Board. All Additional Director General (ADG)-level Indian Information Service (IIS) officers of the erstwhile CBC and PIB will now report to the DG (Coordination).
The organisational chart attached to the memorandum places six ADG-level officers and the CMC network under the DG (Coordination). According to reports, R K Jain has been posted as DG (Coordination), PIB — he was earlier Director General (News), News Services Division, All India Radio, with the additional charge of Director General, AIR.
What do PIB and CBC do?
PIB is the nodal agency for taking information on government policies, programmes and initiatives to the print and electronic media. It was established in June 1919.
CBC was set up on 8 December 2017 by integrating the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), the Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP) and the Song and Drama Division. With 23 Regional Offices and 148 Field Offices, it provides 360-degree communication solutions to ministries, departments, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies.
What changes for the common reader?
Readers do not need to follow any new process. Information on government schemes and announcements will now flow in a more coordinated way from a single organisation — which should mean less duplication across news, advertisements and publicity campaigns. The merger at the state level will happen in phases, so changes at regional offices will appear gradually.
What happened before this?
This is not the first time the government’s media units have been consolidated. In 2017, DAVP, DFP and the Song and Drama Division were merged to form CBC. The memorandum of 12 November 2026 takes that integration forward at the headquarters level.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When were PIB and CBC merged? — On 12 November 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an office memorandum; the integration took effect immediately.
- What will the unified organisation be called? — The Press Information Bureau (PIB).
- Who will head the new organisation? — The Director General (Coordination), PIB, New Delhi, who will report to the Chairman of the Communication Board.
- Will state offices merge immediately too? — No, the integration at the state and branch levels will happen step by step; no timeline has been announced yet.
- When was CBC formed? — On 8 December 2017, through the merger of DAVP, DFP and the Song and Drama Division.
Next Action
- Press Information Bureau (PIB): https://www.pib.gov.in/
- Central Bureau of Communication (CBC): https://cbcindia.gov.in/
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Source: This report is based on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s office memorandum of 12 November 2026, as reported by exchange4media and Legend Officers.
