I&B Ministry
OTT platforms receive stringent warning over content compliance
MUMBAI: India’s ministry of information and broadcasting has issued a comprehensive advisory to over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms following mounting complaints about inappropriate content from members of parliament, statutory organisations and public grievances.
The ministry has underscored that streaming platforms must rigorously comply with the Code of Ethics delineated in the Information Technology Rules of 2021. These regulations mandate precise age-appropriate content classification and robust access controls to prevent children from accessing adult-rated material.
In a significant development, self-regulatory bodies overseeing these platforms have been explicitly instructed to take proactive measures against violations. The advisory drew attention to several stringent laws, including the Indecent Representation of Women Act, the newly enacted Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Information Technology Act, which collectively make the publication of obscene or pornographic content a punishable offence.
The directive particularly emphasised the implementation of a more rigorous age-based content classification system and reminded platforms of the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism established under the IT Rules. This mechanism has been designed to address and resolve complaints related to content violations effectively.
The ministry’s intervention comes at a time when there is increasing public discourse about the alleged proliferation of objectionable content across streaming platforms and social media. The move signals a tightening of regulatory oversight in India’s rapidly expanding digital entertainment sector.
The advisory serves as a stark reminder to OTT platforms that they must exercise heightened discretion and due diligence while publishing content, ensuring it aligns with both legal requirements and ethical standards prescribed under Indian law.
I&B Ministry
Government proposes scrapping film certification fast-track scheme
Priority route may be dropped to end queue-jumping and restore fairness
NEW DELHI: The government is set to press pause on the fast lane for film certification. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed scrapping the Priority Scheme under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, a move that could end the practice of paying extra to move a film ahead in the queue.
In a public notice issued on 16 February, the ministry invited stakeholder comments on the proposal, with the consultation window open until 17 March.
The Priority Scheme, introduced in 2024, allowed filmmakers to request expedited certification by paying three times the standard examination fee. Under the rules, priority applications could be slotted ahead of regular submissions, effectively reshuffling the order of scrutiny.
What began as a provision for exceptional urgency, the ministry says, has gradually become business as usual. The result has been longer waits for films in the regular queue and concerns about fairness in what is meant to be a statutory, rule-based process.
Officials have flagged the risk of a two-tier system, where producers with deeper pockets could buy speed while smaller or independent filmmakers were left waiting their turn. The proposed amendment aims to remove that imbalance by restoring a single, orderly queue for all applicants.
If approved, the changes would remove the rule that permits priority screening upon payment of higher fees, as well as the provision that allows regional officers to alter the order of examination based on such requests. In effect, every film would move through certification strictly according to its place in line, unless a separate exceptional mechanism is introduced later.
For big-budget producers, the shift may mean factoring in longer lead times before release. Marketing campaigns, festival slots and box office calendars that once relied on a quick certification turnaround may need more careful planning.
Independent filmmakers, on the other hand, could find the playing field a little more level. Without a pay-to-fast-forward option, the queue may become slower for some, but fairer for all.
The government says the move is meant to restore equity, improve predictability and strengthen the integrity of the certification process. Whether removing the fast-track option reduces bottlenecks or simply redistributes the delays will depend on how efficiently the regular pipeline is managed in the months ahead.
