I&B Ministry
I&B Sector brings in over $1.25 billion FDI between October 2014 and May 2016
NEW DELHI: India earned foreign exchange amounting to $9565.33 million from computer software and hardware, electronics and Information & Broadcasting (including print media) sectors between October 2014 and May 2016.
Of this, the information and broadcasting sector (I&B( alone yielded $1253.76 million FDI equity inflows, according to a report on the Make in India presented by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament.
The total FDI inflows for these years was $61,585.42 million, the Minister said in an analysis of 58 industries.
The I&B Sector brought in FDI amounting to $205.22 million between October 2014 and March 2015, $1,009.34 million between April 2015 and March 2016, and $39.2 million for the two months of April and May this year.
The Minister said the `Make in India’ initiative was launched in September 2014 with the aim of promoting India as an important investment destination and a global hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. Thereafter, during the period October 2014 to May 2016, the FDI equity inflow has increased by 46 per cent, from $42.31 billion to $61.58 billion in comparison to previous 20 months (February, 2013 to September, 2014). FDI inflow has also increased by 37 per cent from $62.39 billion to $85.75 billion.
India has been ranked third in the list of top prospective host economies for 2016-18 in the World Investment Report (WIR) 2016 of UNCTAD.
To further boost the entire investment environment and to bring in foreign investments in the country, the government is taking various measures like opening up FDI in many sectors; carrying out FDI related reforms and liberalization and improving ease of doing business in the country. Steps are being taken for development of support infrastructure to facilitate setting up of industries such as transport infrastructure, utility infrastructure etc. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has advised ministries and state governments to simplify and rationalize the regulatory environment through business process re-engineering and use of information technology.
I&B Ministry
MeitY extends deadline for feedback on digital media rules overhaul
Government gives stakeholders more time to respond to proposed changes in intermediary guidelines.
MUMBAI: When the rulebook gets a rewrite, even the internet needs a little extra time to read the fine print. Regulators have extended the deadline for public feedback on a proposed overhaul of India’s digital media and intermediary liability framework, giving stakeholders until April 29 to submit their views. In a notice issued on April 10, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said it was extending the consultation period for draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, following representations from several stakeholders.
At the heart of the proposals is a significant shift in how social media platforms and other intermediaries must respond to government communications. A new provision would make compliance with official “clarifications, advisories, directions, standard operating procedures and guidelines” a formal part of the due diligence obligations required to retain safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.
The amendments would also expand the scope of content oversight under Part III of the rules. The digital media ethics code would now apply not only to publishers but also to intermediaries hosting or transmitting user-uploaded news and current affairs content. This could bring user-generated news more directly under regulatory scrutiny.
Additionally, the Inter-Departmental Committee’s powers would be broadened, allowing it to take up matters referred directly by the ministry rather than waiting for formal complaints. This signals a more proactive approach to content monitoring.
The existing IT Rules already impose strict requirements on intermediaries, including timely removal of unlawful content, grievance redressal mechanisms, and traceability in certain cases. Recent updates have also introduced obligations around labelling synthetically generated content.
Officials have described the amendments as necessary to create an “Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet” while improving legal clarity and enforceability.
With the extended deadline now set for April 29, the government has given industry bodies, civil society, and digital platforms additional time to respond to changes that could significantly reshape how online platforms operate and are governed in India.
In the fast-scrolling world of digital regulation, a little extra time to read the small print might just prevent bigger headaches down the line.
