I&B Ministry
Govt earned Rs 48 crore from foreign TV channels as fees
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry earned a sum of Rs 48.05 crore during the current year and the last three years from foreign television channels towards registration and annual renewal fees.
Three broadcasting companies, which have permission of 17 foreign TV channels, obtained permission for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the last three years as well as the current year.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, I&B minister Arun Jaitley said that the Ministry has permitted 822 TV channels as on 5 August, 2015 under Uplinking/Downlinking Guidelines. The details are available on the Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.
Under the Downlinking Guidelines, the companies are not required to report changes in shareholding pattern to the Ministry for channels uplinked from abroad.
Content telecast on private satellite TV channels is regulated in accordance with the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder.
I&B Ministry
Devinder Kumar appointed Prasar Bharati chief vigilance officer
Senior IOFS officer to serve three-year term with Level-13 pay scale
MUMBAI: The Centre has appointed Devinder Kumar as the chief vigilance officer of Prasar Bharati, formalising a key oversight role within India’s public broadcasting network.
The appointment was cleared through an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Kumar, a senior Indian Ordnance Factory Service officer, will initially serve a tenure of three years or until further government orders, whichever comes earlier.
As chief vigilance officer, Kumar will be responsible for overseeing vigilance and compliance functions within Prasar Bharati, ensuring transparency and accountability across the organisation’s operations.
The role carries a Level-13 pay scale under the central government structure, translating to a salary range between Rs 1,23,100 and Rs 2,15,900. The compensation aligns the position with other senior administrative roles across government departments.
Kumar’s appointment follows due process, including a recommendation from the Central Vigilance Commission, which vets candidates for such critical oversight positions.
Currently serving under the Department of Defence Production, Kumar has been directed to be relieved of his existing duties with immediate effect to assume his new role.
The move comes as Prasar Bharati continues to strengthen its governance framework, with the CVO position playing a central role in maintaining institutional integrity. Kumar’s appointment is expected to bolster internal oversight at a time when accountability remains firmly in focus across public sector organisations.
