I&B Ministry
Does govt propose to regulate kids’ channels? MIB says ‘no’
NEW DELHI: Do watching cartoons have lasting effects on the children? Has the government made any assessment regarding the impact of cartoon channels on kids? Does the government propose to regulate/limit the telecast of cartoon programmes by private channels and Doordarshan in accordance with the examination schedule of children?
Well, these were some of queries raised by an Indian parliamentarian in the Lok Sabha or Lower House yesterday. The government, while admitting kids’ programming could affect children, however, clarified there were no proposal at present to regulate such shows or limiting their broadcast schedules.
Pointing out research does indicate that watching cartoon has both “negative and positive effects” on children, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said the government is not aware of any study or research that conclusively proves watching cartoons or any such other programme has “lasting effect on children”.
Rathore further said, “Presently there is no such policy [to regulate or limit the telecast of cartoon programmes by private channels and Doordarshan].”
According to Rathore, the government grants permission to TV channels under two categories of news & current affairs and non-news & current affairs and there was no separate categorisation (like cartoon channels) for granting of permission by the government to start a TV channel.
“Non-news and current affairs channels are permitted to air programmes of any nature, including cartoon[s], provided the content of the programme adheres to [the] programme code stipulated under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995,” the Minister added.
Replying to another question on whether the Government proposes to introduce a legislation to regulate web media and news portals for their mandatory registration, Rathore said presently there was “no such proposal” in this regard.
“The government is committed to freedom of speech and expression and privacy of its citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Government does not regulate content appearing on web media. Law enforcement agencies take action on posting of malicious content on specific case to case basis,” the Minister told his fellow parliamentarian.
The MIB, meanwhile, recently told the Supreme Court that it was withdrawing a proposal to set up a social media hub, which was criticized by the civil society and online activists on the ground that the government was trying to prepare a surveillance center to track live the digital footprints of its citizens.
I&B Ministry
Government sets up AI governance group to steer policy
AIGEG to align ministries, assess jobs impact, guide AI deployment.
MUMBAI: If artificial intelligence is the engine, the government is now building the dashboard and making sure everyone reads from the same screen. The Centre has constituted a new inter-ministerial body to coordinate India’s approach to AI, formalising a key recommendation from its governance framework and the Economic Survey. The AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG), set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, will act as the central platform to align AI-related policy across ministries, regulators and departments, an attempt to bring coherence to what has so far been a fragmented and fast-evolving landscape.
The group will be chaired by union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, with minister of state Jitin Prasada as vice chairperson. Its composition reflects both technological and economic priorities, bringing together the principal scientific adviser, the chief economic adviser, and the CEO of NITI Aayog, alongside key secretaries from telecommunications, economic affairs and science and technology. A representative from the National Security Council Secretariat is also part of the group, while the MeitY secretary will serve as member convenor.
At its core, AIGEG is designed to do two things: coordinate and anticipate. On the policy front, it will review existing regulatory mechanisms, issue guidance across sectors and ensure companies remain compliant with evolving legal frameworks. Beyond that, it will oversee national initiatives on AI governance, with a focus on enabling responsible innovation rather than merely regulating it.
The economic dimension is equally central. The group has been tasked with assessing how AI-driven automation could reshape jobs identifying which roles are most at risk, where those impacts may be geographically concentrated, and whether technology will augment or replace human labour. Based on these assessments, it will develop mitigation strategies and transition plans, signalling a more proactive stance on workforce disruption.
In parallel, AIGEG will work with industry stakeholders to chart a long-term roadmap for AI adoption, categorising use cases into “deploy”, “pilot” or “defer” buckets depending on readiness factors such as data availability, skill levels and regulatory clarity. The aim is to move from broad ambition to structured execution deciding not just what can be built, but what should be built now.
The group will function as the apex layer in India’s AI governance architecture, supported by a Technology and Policy Expert Committee that will track global developments, emerging risks and regulatory priorities. Together, the two bodies are expected to shape both the pace and direction of AI adoption in the country.
In a landscape where technology often outruns policy, the creation of AIGEG signals an attempt to close that gap ensuring that India’s AI journey is not just rapid, but also coordinated, accountable and economically grounded.
