I&B Ministry
ISRO/DoS relent on use of foreign satellites; MIB starts processing applications
MUMBAI: India’s Department of Space, overseeing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has eased up on its hitherto hard stance on Indian TV channels and teleports using foreign satellites’ capacity — if the Indian customer has a long-term contract.
In a communication to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), DoS/ISRO combine has advised that applications may be processed — for the time being — without insistence on migration to an Indian satellite or asking the time frame for doing it.
According to government sources, it has been suggested to MIB that it could start granting permissions to TV channels proposing to use foreign satellites for uplinking purpose if they are going in for a contract of three years or more. If an applicant company, having existing government permissions, has long-term capacity contract on foreign satellites, it too should be allowed to continue with its services.
However, there’s a caveat to ISRO/DoS’ latest softening of stance. Any company that has existing permission from MIB to start a TV channel or communications service (like teleports) and is using foreign satellites should give the Indian space agency at least three-month notice for space on an Indian satellite when its contract with a foreign satco is ending. Same holds true for all fresh permissions for TV channels given by the government.
The DoS/ISRO communication referred to over 35 applications that were kept pending by MIB as Department of Space had been insisting on migration to Indians satellites. MIB had also issued letters earlier this year asking companies seeking name change, for example, as to when they proposed to shift to an Indian satellite. Out of these cases highlighted by ISRO/DoS, at least 10 have long-term contracts for capacity on foreign satellites.
Last month MIB cleared applications of three new TV channels in Indian languages under Aastha brand name. The Aastha channels are owned by a company controlled by Balkrishna, a close associate of yoga-guru-turned-entrepreneur Ramdev who’s Patanjali FMCG venture is giving even multinational companies sleepless nights, if revenues and sales growth are to be believed.
Government nods recently were also given for name and logo change to some big broadcasting companies. Incidentally, some of the Aastha TV channels use foreign satellites for uplinking activity.
In recent times, ISRO has been facing minor setbacks regarding launch of communications satellites, including Gsat-11, which returned to India just few days before launch from a European launchpad.
Still, it needs to be seen how long the government continues allowing Indian customers facilities of foreign satellites.
MIB Expands Areas for Online Applications
In a new advisory put out yesterday, MIB has expanded the services for which applications could be made online, something that the government has been insisting on in an effort to reduce processing time.
The online module for submitting applications on www.broadcastseva.gov.in extends to cases relating to change in details of a company, annual permission fee for teleport companies and company-specific changes being sought to be made by teleports.
The government has also reiterated an earlier stand of accepting online payments for various processing and annual permission fee, adding such payments should be made on time failing which action could be taken against companies concerned under existing regulations.
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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.
