I&B Ministry
Govt warned 55 violators of programme & ad codes in 3 yrs, says Rathore
NEW DELHI: The government issued 55 advisories or warnings since 2014 to various channels for violation of the Programme or Advertising Codes, the Parliament has been told.
These include four advisories to all channels of which two were issued this year, one relating to telecast of Republic Day events with accompaniment of sign language.
There were nineteen cases in 2014, 17 in 2015, 16 last year and three this year, the minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said.
In most cases, channels have been issued warnings or advisories and in some cases to run apology scrolls.
Permission to uplink and downlink private satellite TV channel is granted in accordance with the extant Policy Guidelines of Uplinking and downlinking of TV channels in India. Such permission holder companies, are required to abide by all the rules and regulations mentioned in the Policy Guidelines.
Whenever any information/complaints about alleged irregularities in the functioning of any TV channel or their allied companies comes to the notice of this ministry, action is taken on case to case basis, under the provisions of the Policy Guidelines.
In addition, all permitted broadcasters are required to ensure that all programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels and transmitted/retransmitted through the Cable TV Network are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertisements Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed thereunder.
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I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
