I&B Ministry
MIB forms committee to draft online media norms
MUMBAI: After retracting the order which called for guidelines to punish journalists for fake news, the government has upped the ante to regulate online media. Smriti Irani-led Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has constituted a committee of 10 members to discuss and recommend a regulatory framework for online media.
The order which was released on 4 April named the secretaries of the ministries of Home, Electronics and Information Technology, and the departments of Legal Affairs, and Industrial Policy and Promotion as part of the committee. Along with that, it will have representatives from the Press Council of India, News Broadcasters Association and the Indian Broadcasters Federation.
It has been reported earlier also that government was in talks to come up with regulations for online media. Speaking at an event, Irani said that the ministry was planning to bring about regulations, especially for online news, opinion and entertainment content.
In the terms of references, three reasons have been cited. The first one is to “delineate the sphere of online information dissemination which needs to be brought under regulation, on the lines applicable for print and electronic media”.
The second reason is to “recommend appropriate policy formulation for online media/news portal and online content platforms, including digital broadcasting which encompasses entertainment/infotainment and news/media aggregators, keeping in mind the extant FDI norms, programme and advertising code for TV channels, norms circulated by PCI, code of ethics framed by NBA and norms prescribed by IBF”.
Finally the order said that the committee would analyse the international scenario on such existing regulatory mechanism to incorporate the best practices.
Commenting on the update, news broadcaster NDTV said, “The youngest and most democratic of all media – online media – must be allowed self-regulation: the chance to develop and implement its own guidelines for responsible and fair journalism. The IT Act already applies to online content. The government move that seeks to decide new rules for online media excludes any representatives from online news publishers and reads as exclusionary and coercive. Online publishers are perfectly capable of forming a credible organization, pairing their own leaders with eminent and independent voices, similar to those that represent broadcasters and print media. Allow a real discussion, a genuine debate. That is the fundamental operating principle of the internet.”
When a newspaper or a television channel runs news, it has to adhere to the law. There are self-regulatory bodies to set guidelines for traditional media. In the online ecosystem, however, the legislation in terms of news or video content is not very clear.
Since a while, governments all over the globe have been attempting to prevent “fake news”. In India, the move has been criticised by many media professionals and organisations as a step to curb the freedom of media. The authority is looking to restrict news content spread via YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp as the order refers to “digital broadcasting” too.
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I&B Ministry
Doordarshan, ICCR sign MoU to boost global reach of Indian culture
Pact taps TV, radio and digital platforms to take cultural content worldwide
NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at taking India’s cultural story further across borders, Doordarshan under Prasar Bharati has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to expand the global reach of Indian cultural content.
The agreement, signed on April 7 at Doordarshan Bhawan, brings together the content strength of ICCR and the wide broadcast network of Doordarshan, spanning television, radio and digital platforms.
Under the partnership, ICCR will provide a steady stream of cultural programming, including performances and events organised by Indian missions abroad such as embassies, consulates and cultural centres. Doordarshan will handle production, coverage and distribution, ensuring that these programmes find audiences not just in India but across the world.
The collaboration also opens the door for recorded cultural content from overseas missions to be aired across multiple platforms, including OTT and social media, making Indian art, music and heritage more accessible to global viewers.
A notable feature of the MoU is joint ownership of content rights in perpetuity, including digital rights. This allows both organisations to archive and reuse material over time, building a long-term cultural repository while maximising reach. Doordarshan will also support pre-event promotion and cross-platform visibility to drive engagement.
Speaking at the signing, Doordarshan director general K. Satish Nambudiripad and Indian Council for Cultural Relations director general K. Nandini Singla highlighted the potential of the partnership to strengthen India’s cultural diplomacy through modern media channels.
The agreement, initially valid for three years, also allows Doordarshan to explore monetisation opportunities from the content generated, adding a commercial layer to cultural broadcasting.
As India looks to blend tradition with technology, this partnership signals a clear intent to make its cultural voice not just heard, but seen and streamed across the globe.
