I&B Ministry
MIB zaps 144 TV channels for code breaches
Government tunes out 144 TV offenders with warnings, scrolls, and shutdowns from 2021-2025.
MUMBAI: Zapping the airwaves like a faulty remote, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dished out 144 enforcement slaps to private satellite TV channels for flouting the Programme and Advertising Codes under the 1995 Cable Television Networks Act proving that in the broadcast biz, breaking rules can lead to a swift channel change.
In a parliamentary ping-pong session, minister of state L Murugan spilled the beans to AAP MP Raghav Chadha, revealing how channels must toe the line or face the music: no attacking religions, stirring communal pots, or slinging slander at society’s moral fibre. It’s all enshrined in those codes, designed to keep the telly tame and tasteful.
But wait, there’s a plot twist, the government beefed up its watchdog role with the 2021 amendments on 17 June, rolling out a three-tier grievance gauntlet. First, broadcasters handle the heat themselves, if that fizzles, self-regulating bodies step in; and finally, the Centre swoops like a censor superhero for the knockout punch. No direct meddling in the early rounds, mind you just oversight when things get sticky.
The stats paint a pixelated picture of the crackdown, 43 actions in 2021, peaking at 52 in 2022, dipping to 37 in 2023, then a dramatic fade with just four in 2024 and eight in 2025. Breaking it down, that’s 35 gentle nudges via advisories, 50 stern warnings, 54 orders for those cringe-worthy apology scrolls crawling across screens, three outright off-air blackouts, one full permission yank, and even a lone disclaimer decree for good measure.
While 2022 stole the spotlight for most interventions, the recent years suggest a calmer channel lineup or perhaps broadcasters are finally getting the memo. The Ministry keeps firing off advisories like reminder texts, ensuring everyone plays nice, with heavier hammers reserved for the real rotters.
And for those wondering if local lingo channels get a free pass? Nope the rules blanket all, from national heavyweights to regional rabble-rousers. In this era of amended airwaves, it’s clear the government’s grievance grid is no mere static, it’s a tuned-in tool keeping the broadcast boat from rocking too wildly.
I&B Ministry
Chanchal Kumar appointed MIB secretary
1992-batch officer shifts from DoNER as Sanjay Jaju heads the north-east ministry
New Delhi: The government has rejigged its top bureaucracy, appointing Chanchal Kumar as secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, replacing Sanjay Kumar Jaju in a swift senior-level switch.
Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, moves from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), where he had been serving as secretary. He steps into MIB as Jaju exits to take charge as secretary, DoNER.
Kumar is no stranger to handling multiple mandates. In December 2025, while at DoNER, he briefly held additional charge as secretary in the Department of Telecommunications during Neeraj Mittal’s leave from December 12 to December 21, ensuring continuity at a critical time.
Jaju, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Telangana cadre, had taken over as secretary, MIB in February 2024, succeeding Apurva Chandra, who moved to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. His tenure combined administrative continuity with a sharper policy pitch on trust in India’s fast-evolving media and advertising landscape.
Speaking at the AdTrust Summit 2026 organised by the Advertising Standards Council of India, Jaju warned that misleading promotions risk eroding public trust even as digital platforms expand reach for businesses, startups and creators. He flagged rising threats from financial scams, deceptive investment schemes and fraudulent job advertisements targeting vulnerable users.
While noting that commercial speech is protected under freedom of expression, Jaju argued that misleading advertising must face regulatory scrutiny. He pushed for a shift in industry priorities—from scale to credibility, authenticity and transparency—especially in disclosures and sponsored content. Truthfulness, accountability and safeguards for vulnerable audiences, he said, must anchor the ecosystem.
Jaju’s move to DoNER and Kumar’s arrival at MIB signal a calibrated reshuffle at the top—continuity in governance, but with a clear message: credibility is the new currency.
