MAM
Govt. mulls norms tweak on women’s portrayal in digital media
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is proposing to amend relevant laws relating to representation of women in mass media with a view to make the law contemporary and keep pace with changing technologies like OTT and other digital services.
The India government had enacted the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA), 1986 to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisements, publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner. Since the enactment of the Act, technological evolution has resulted in the development of new forms of communication, such as internet, multi-media messaging, cable television, over-the-top (OTT) services and applications like Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, Chat On, Snapchat and Instagram.
According to a statement put out by the government, technological advancements has necessitated widening the scope of the law so as to cover all forms of media. The proposal to amend the Act was introduced in Parliament in 2012, which referred the issue to a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has proposed amendments to widen the scope of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA), 1986 keeping in mind the recent technological advancement in the field of communications.
Based on the observations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and recommendation made by the National Commission for Women and wide consultations with civil society groups, the following amendments have been recommended, amongst other things, by the ministry:
Amendment in definition of term advertisement to include digital form or electronic form or hoardings, or through SMS and MMS.
Amendment in definition of distribution to include publication, license or uploading using computer resource or communication device.
Penalty similar to that provided under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Creation of a centralized authority under the National Commission of Women (NCW). This body will have representatives from Advertising Standards Council of India, Press Council of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one member having experience of working on women issues.
This centralized body will be authorized to receive complaints or grievances regarding any programme or advertisement broadcast or published and investigate/examine all matters relating to the indecent representation of women.
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Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
