I&B Ministry
Government to look at law for preventing attacks on press
MUMBAI:Prakash Javadekar has been making a lot of appearances since he took over as the new Information and Broadcasting Minister. For a man who is aiming to be a media-friendly rather than a media-shy I&B Minister, Javadekar took the centrestage at the Red Ink Awards held in Mumbai on 7 June, to send across a message from the government to the media fraternity.
He started off by stating that the essence of democracy is the freedom of press and the Modi government is fully committed to the full freedom of media and it is their cardinal principle. While he questioned whether press meant owners, editors, the journalists or the readers and viewers, he also reminded the media that “society expects accuracy, balance and fairness from the media.”
According to Javadekar, self-regulation is better than censorship. “I don’t like the word regulation. It should be self-restraint. Media needs to think whether it will play only what the public is interested in viewing or if it will also play what is in the public’s interest,” he said.
Attacks on the press are not unknown of and Javadekar in his speech did not fail to acknowledge it. “This needs to be prevented. We will surely see if there is a possibility of a central law for prevention of attacks on press,” he stated.
Expectations from the new Minister are high and he is in no hurry to come up with a game plan on the various issues. “There are many issues pending such as foreign direct investment in media, FM news, social media, digital media, digitisation etc. These are issues we will talk to all the stakeholders and then come to a consensus. We don’t want to thrust some decision on the whole sector but evolve it by consensus.”
He also stated that both the print and the electronic media will flourish in the upcoming years.
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.
