iWorld
Government moves to make OTT content more accessible for disabled viewers
Draft guidelines propose phased rollout of accessibility features for OTT platforms
MUMBAI: The next streaming upgrade isn’t about sharper pixels, it’s about opening the screen to everyone. The government is looking to ensure that entertainment doesn’t just reach millions, but becomes accessible to all.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has said it has issued draft Guidelines for Accessibility of Content on Platforms of Publishers of Online Curated Content (OTT Platforms) for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment, proposing measures to make streaming content more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan said the draft guidelines were released for public consultation on 7 October 2025.
The proposed framework seeks to improve accessibility of audio-visual content for persons with hearing and visual impairment, while outlining a two-phase implementation schedule for OTT platforms.
According to the ministry, the draft guidelines have been prepared in line with the constitutional guarantee of equality under Article 14, India’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which were notified on 25 February 2021 under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The ministry also pointed out that accessibility standards are already in place for television broadcasting. It had issued Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities in Television Programmes for the Hearing Impaired on 11 September 2019.
Under Part 12 of those standards, accessibility services are to be implemented in a phased manner, beginning with Prasar Bharati, followed by private broadcasters and private news broadcasters.
The latest proposal extends that accessibility push to India’s rapidly growing OTT ecosystem, signalling the government’s intent to make digital entertainment more inclusive as streaming platforms continue to attract larger and more diverse audiences.
The information was shared by Dr L. Murugan in the Rajya Sabha in response to questions raised by Smt. Sangeeta Yadav, Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni and Shri Deepak Prakash.
