iWorld
No plans to impose censorship or regulate social media: Javadekar
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that there were and are no plans to impose any censorship on social media or to regulate any programmes beamed through social media.
The Minister told the Parliament that the Communication and Information Technology Ministry has given an assurance in this regard.
Social media has become an important tool that is also being used by government departments to reach out to the people. Although he highlighted that section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 allows blocking of any videos or information affecting society in the interest of public order.
Earlier in the month of May, Javadekar had urged all central Ministries to disseminate their policy initiatives through the Communication Hub under the existing New Media Wing of his Ministry.
Firmly believing in prolific use of social media, the Minister wrote to his cabinet colleagues for utilising the hub as a one-stop place for social media outreach.
In his letter, he said each Ministry or department may liaise with the New Media Wing which will cater to all its needs such as disseminating information through packaging and placing of content, wider reach through variety of tools and response management.
He said the two-way interaction envisaged in this endeavour would provide a 360 degree communication approach to the government and hence, help in last man connectivity.
He said the directive was in adherence to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wanted to use the social media platforms extensively for transparency and better governance.
iWorld
Guru Randhawa clocks 19.8 billion YouTube views, tops global charts
Punjabi star outpaces global acts as streaming surge fuels new phase
MUMBAI: Guru Randhawa is striking a powerful chord on the global music stage, clocking 19.8 billion views on YouTube and emerging as one of the most-watched Punjabi artists worldwide.
The milestone puts him ahead of several global heavyweights, including Dua Lipa and Drake, underlining the growing international pull of Punjabi music. Alongside the viewership numbers, Randhawa has amassed 108.9 million hours of watch time, reflecting sustained engagement from audiences across markets.
His strong run comes on the back of a standout 2025, where he crossed 500 million audio streams, driven largely by his album Without Prejudice. The project marked a turning point, blending his signature style with a more global, polished sound.
That momentum carried forward with releases like Azul and Shkini, before rolling into 2026 with Dopamine, signalling a consistent and fast-paced release strategy.
On Spotify, Randhawa has also secured multiple top 10 entries on the India top 200 chart, reinforcing his cross-platform appeal. His independent streak appears to be paying off, with each release building on the last in both scale and reach.
As the lines between regional and global music continue to blur, Randhawa’s rise offers a glimpse into the future of Indian pop on the world stage. With numbers climbing and momentum firmly on his side, the next chapter could well be his biggest yet.
