I&B Ministry
Digitisation has increased M&E revenue: MIB’s Rathore
MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is patting its back for the digitisation success in India. Minister of State for MIB Rajyavardhan Rathore endorsed the growth of the media and entertainment industry and the benefits of digitisation.
In response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha, he said that digitisation has led to enhanced revenue generation in the industry as it enhanced benefits to consumers as well as transparency in the subscriber base. The government passed the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act in December 2011 for digitisation of cable television networks in a phased manner.
He also added “Digitisation enables efficient utilisation of the spectrum bandwidth and enhances the capacity to carry channels on the cable. The consumers get a wider choice of channels, improved quality of content and added services and the states benefit from lowered incidence of evasion of taxes. Cable TV digitisation has also given a boost to the indigenous manufacturing of set top boxes (STBs) and it also results in skill development & employment generation in digital environment."
Rathore cited the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) report which estimated the growth of the industry at Rs 1660 billion in 2018 from Rs 1473 billion in 2017, while the figure stood at Rs 1026 billion in 2014.
Indian M&E sector has not only seen investments from foreign behemoths only but from large domestic conglomerates. In addition to that, the current digital wave is boosting the growth faster.
I&B Ministry
150 govt websites earn quality certification
From PMO to PSUs, India’s digital portals ace the GIGW standards test as of Jan 2026.
MUMBAI: Clicking all the right buttons, 150 government websites have proudly flaunted their Certified Quality Website (CQW) badges, earning top marks under the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) proof that not every online government page is a bureaucratic black hole.
In a crisp Rajya Sabha reply to MP Mallikarjun Kharge, minister of state for electronics and IT Jitin Prasada revealed that as of 20 January 2026, the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate had issued exactly 150 valid CQW certifications. That’s a solid lineup, 116 snagged by Central Government portals, six by State Government sites, 14 by Public Sector Undertakings, plus a handful for statutory bodies (2), autonomous bodies (5), e-voting platforms (5), and even two Central Government mobile apps.
The breakdown underscores how the voluntary scheme valid for three years with mandatory re-certification – has spread its quality net wide. High-profile heavyweights like the prime minister’s office, president’s secretariat, CERT-In, UIDAI, CBSE, TRAI, Press Information Bureau, and various ministry hubs have all passed muster. Even critical digital infrastructure, including e-voting setups and financial gateways, made the cut.
Not everyone’s a winner, though, eight hopefuls were shown the digital door for failing to meet GIGW rules. Most current certificates rolled out under GIGW version 2.0, with fresher ones nodding to the upgraded 3.0 benchmarks, a sign the bar keeps rising. Fresh approvals stretch into January 2026, with validity ticking on through 2028 and 2029 for the newest batch.
The certifications date back as far as 2008, but the bulk of today’s valid ones hail from 2023–2026, reflecting a recent push for polished, user-friendly government web presence. Full details? They’re neatly listed on the STQC website for anyone keen to browse the certified club.
In an era where clicking “government site” often means bracing for glitches, these 150 standouts are quietly proving that when it comes to quality, some portals really do load with style.
