I&B Ministry
Govt mulls dilution in cricket content share norm
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is exploring some dilution in the downlink and uplink norms that makes it mandatory for private broadcasters to share sports content with pubcaster Prasar Bharati.
According to a senior official in the information and broadcasting ministry, keeping in mind the Ten Sports case, the government might allow broadcasters to honour their business commitments agreed upon before the new media norms came into effect in November last.
Though the government official was not forthcoming on the issue, he did admit that the ministry is exploring how minor changes could be made in the uplink and downlink guidelines that will allow broadcasters to honour their previous commitment.
Ten Sports had moved the Supreme Court challenging the validity of government norms on mandatory content share, saying authorities could not force content share with Prasar Bharati for events that had been snapped up much before the law into existence.
Ten Sports had moved the Supreme Court challenging the validity of government norms on mandatory content share, saying authorities could not force content share with Prasar Bharati for events that had been snapped up much before the law into existence.
In an interim observation, the Supreme Court had agreed to a compromise formula between Ten and Prasar Bharati, on the eve of the India-Pakistan cricket tour, which envisaged DD airing live the five one-dayers on payment of Rs. 150 million. Additionally, DD has also agreed not to market the matches on its network during playing hours.
The government official said that such instances would keep cropping up unless some concessions were made. Without specifying any time frame for this dilution in norms, the official indicated it might come through soon.
Apart from Ten Sports, ESPN Star Sports has also moved the Delhi High Court challenging the content sharing norm. This case is still to be taken up by the court.
I&B Ministry
MeitY proposes tighter rules for digital platforms and intermediaries
Fresh amendments aim to formalise government directions and expand content oversight.
MUMBAI: When the rulebook gets an upgrade, even the internet might need to sit up and pay attention because India’s digital regulators are clearly not scrolling idly. India’s technology regulators have proposed a fresh set of amendments to the country’s digital media and intermediary liability framework, seeking to expand oversight of online content and formalise the government’s authority to issue binding directions to platforms.
In a notice issued on 30 March, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) invited public comments on changes to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The revisions are described as “clarificatory and procedural” but are clearly aimed at strengthening compliance and enforcement.
At the heart of the proposal is a significant shift in how intermediaries, including social media platforms, respond to government advisories. A newly inserted provision would make compliance with official “clarifications, advisories, directions, standard operating procedures and guidelines” a formal part of the due diligence obligations required for platforms to retain legal immunity under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. This change effectively elevates government communications from guidance to enforceable obligations, tightening the regulatory loop between the state and digital platforms.
The amendments also expand the scope of content oversight under Part III of the rules, which governs digital media ethics. The proposed revisions clarify that the code will apply not only to publishers but also to intermediaries hosting news and current affairs content uploaded by users. This could bring user-generated news content more directly within the ambit of regulatory scrutiny, a move likely to raise questions about platform liability and editorial responsibility.
Further, the government has proposed broadening the mandate of the Inter-Departmental Committee, a key oversight body. The committee would no longer be limited to adjudicating complaints but could also take up matters referred directly by the ministry. This shift signals a more proactive regulatory posture, allowing authorities to initiate reviews without waiting for formal grievances.
The draft builds on an already expansive framework. The existing IT Rules impose detailed due diligence requirements on intermediaries, including obligations to remove unlawful content within tight timelines, maintain grievance redressal systems, and ensure traceability in certain cases. Recent amendments have also introduced provisions addressing synthetically generated content, requiring platforms to label such material and deploy technical measures to prevent misuse.
Officials framed the latest proposals as necessary to ensure an “Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet,” while improving “legal certainty” and the enforceability of regulatory directions.
Stakeholders have been invited to submit feedback by 14 April, setting the stage for what could become another consequential evolution in India’s digital governance regime.
In the fast-moving world of online content, these tweaks suggest the government is keen to keep the guardrails firmly in place – because when the internet grows wilder, even regulators feel the need to hit refresh on the rulebook.
