I&B Ministry
India boasts of 830 TV channels even as MIB cancels permission of 125
NEW DELHI: The total number of television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen to 830, with the permission of as many as 125 channels cancelled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 955 channels, which included those who have been later denied permission.
Of the permitted channels, 398 are news and current affairs channels while 432 are general entertainment channels (GECs).
Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, as of 30 November, 2015.
A total of 725 channels including 349 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 85 including 70 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.
Star India brought into its fold the Maa cluster of channels including Maa TV, Maa Movies, Maa Music, and Maa Gold. NGC Network India launched National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo People HD, Nat Geo Music HD, National Geographic HD, Fox Life and Fox Life HD in other Indian languages. Eenadu TV launched ETV Life, ETV Plus and ETV Abhiruchi that are Telugu channels permitted for uplinking. Additionally, Colors TV launched Colors Infinity and Colors Infinity HD.
Other channels that received permission this year include 9X Bajao (earlier 9X Bajaao and 9X Bangla), Rengoni, Asianet HD, Australia Network, Da Vinci Learning (non-news channel), Sharnam, Tulsi TV (earlier Vedas Om TV); the multi-lingual Sree TV, Naaptol HD (earlier All Time), Media One Life in Malayalam and English; Sangeet Marathi; MNGK Star in English and Indian languages; Ishwar in English and Indian languages; Baby TV HD; Seven Sisters Rainbow; Positive Health; Shubh TV; Swadesh News; Cartoon TV (earlier Maha Mazza); Teleshop; Home Shop 18 Tamil; V S Entertainment; Nick HD+ (earlier Bandhan); Veria Living and Zee Café HD (for downlinking).
I&B Ministry
IT Rules tweaks are clarificatory, not expansion of powers: MeitY
Govt signals flexibility as platforms push for clarity on user content rules
NEW DELHI: The Centre has sought to dial down concerns over its proposed amendments to the IT Rules, with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology secretary S Krishnan asserting that the changes are intended as clarifications rather than an expansion of regulatory powers.
Pushing back against criticism from platforms and civil society, S Krishnan said the amendments “do not in any way actually give us wider powers” and are meant to remove ambiguity in how existing provisions are applied. He added that the trigger came largely from within the ecosystem, with intermediaries themselves seeking clearer guidance on compliance, takedowns and record preservation.
At the heart of the debate is the growing friction between platforms and policymakers over responsibility for user-generated content. Intermediaries have argued that they should not be treated on par with publishers, particularly when content is created and uploaded by users. Krishnan acknowledged this concern, noting that “a sharper distinction” between user content and publisher content is needed and is currently under examination.
The issue becomes more complex in enforcement scenarios. While registered publishers can be directly asked to modify or remove content, intermediaries often lack control over the original creator. “In such cases, the intermediary cannot direct those changes,” Krishnan explained, underlining the need for procedural nuance.
Another key proposal under discussion is to bring user-generated news and current affairs content within a more unified regulatory ambit, potentially under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The move follows suggestions that a single authority should handle such content, regardless of whether it originates from a publisher or an individual user.
Even as the government frames the amendments as a tidy-up exercise, fault lines remain. Industry players have flagged concerns over compliance burdens, especially for smaller businesses, and questioned whether advisories could effectively become binding without explicit legislative backing. Krishnan said the government is mindful of these risks and is exploring ways to ease obligations, including possible relaxations under certain provisions.
The ministry is also considering consolidating multiple advisories and guidelines into a more structured framework, a step widely seen as addressing long-standing confusion over what platforms are expected to follow.
On takedowns, the government has reiterated that due process will remain unchanged. Krishnan stressed that actions will continue to be governed by established procedures, with reasons recorded and review mechanisms in place. He also pointed to the surge in deepfakes and synthetic media as a factor behind rising content disputes, calling it a “scale challenge” for regulators.
Interestingly, Krishnan also framed social media platforms as commercial entities rather than pure vehicles of free expression, hinting at a broader shift in regulatory thinking as platform economics come into sharper focus.
With stakeholders seeking more time and, in some cases, a rollback of the proposals, the government has kept the consultation process open-ended. Krishnan said further revisions remain on the table, signalling a willingness to adapt the draft based on feedback.
For now, the message from MeitY is clear: the rules may not be tightening in intent, but the effort to define them more clearly is well underway.
