I&B Ministry
Parliamentary panel questions legality of new digital media rules
KOLKATA: The parliamentary standing committee on information and technology grilled officials from the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) and the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY) on the new rules for monitoring over-the-top (OTT) platforms, digital media and social media intermediaries.
The parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the legality of the new regulatory framework, according to media reports.
Several questions on framing the guidelines were raised – whether industry stakeholders were consulted before framing the guidelines, if opinions were taken from intellectual people, civic society, and the judiciary. Another key point flagged was whether the rules are in conformity with the existing framework.
In their deposition, ministry officials have assured the panel that due process was followed before the new rules were introduced. They justified the need for such rules in changing times and also explained the rationale behind them.
Earlier in a meeting, the panel told MIB officials that it hoped the ministry would implement the rules with due regard to the importance of promoting creativity and protecting freedom of expression while maintaining a robust oversight mechanism.
On 25 February, the Centre notified an expansive framework to govern online content, titled Information Technology (Guidelines for intermediaries and digital media ethics code) Rules 2021. It gave online content providers between 30 to 90 days to comply with the same. Under the new guidelines, a three-tier oversight mechanism for online content has been put in place.
I&B Ministry
Press Sewa Portal digitises 1.5 lakh records, streamlines periodical registrations: MIB
Online system spans 780 districts; Rs 5.6 crore penalties, 88,315 titles cancelled
NEW DELHI: India’s print media registry has quietly moved from dusty files to digital dashboards. The government has digitised more than 1.5 lakh historical records of newspapers and periodicals and shifted registrations fully online through the Press Sewa Portal.
Introduced under the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023, the portal now handles all applications for registering periodicals, replacing the earlier paper-heavy system created under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, which has since been repealed.
The digital shift brings a wide range of services onto a single platform. Publishers can now register new periodicals, revise registrations, transfer ownership, file annual statements, pay penalties online and apply for circulation verification without navigating government offices.
As part of the rollout, specified authorities in 780 districts across India have been onboarded onto the platform. Since 1 March 2024, the portal has processed 11,081 applications and issued certificates across different categories.
The transition has also brought stronger compliance. According to government data, Rs 5.63 crore in penalties has been collected through the portal so far. States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh account for some of the largest penalty collections.
At the same time, the authorities have carried out a major clean-up of inactive or non-compliant publications. A total of 88,315 periodicals have been cancelled nationwide, with Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi among the states reporting the highest number of cancellations.
The government says the system will continue to evolve based on feedback from users. The Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) regularly reviews suggestions to improve services and make compliance easier for publishers.
The full list of registered newspapers and periodicals is available on the PRGI website under the Registered Titles section.
The information was shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha by minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs L Murugan, responding to a question from Damodar Agrawal.
