I&B Ministry
Several new news channels await clearance: I&B minister RS Prasad
NEW DELHI: India’s information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said that there are several new proposals for news channels that are pending the government’s clearance.
“I still have some seven to eight files regarding news channels to clear,”Prasad said, adding that of these some are old cases.
The minister, who was speaking at a session on media and entertainment at the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, however, refused to give any further details or to name the companies that have sought government permission to start news channels.
On the sidelines of the session, Prasad also said that the government has not taken any stand on the formation of a task force to look into evolving an industry-friendly policy framework for the FM radio segment as had been suggested by the Radio Group, which had met the minister some days back.
“The proposal is still under consideration,” Prasad said. According to the minister, the government has decided to rework the visa manual in order to provide a single window clearance to foreign film producers coming to shoot on Indian locales.
Prasad said that a suggestion has been made by him to the external affairs minister to make films as a part of diplomacy as the films are the best ambassadors of the country.
Dwelling on the simplification of norms for film shooting in India, Prasad said this would enable foreign producers to come to India with a script and leave with the complete films in cans. For this, a whole lot of post-production facilities, studio and other infrastructure facilities, including the hotel and transport arrangements, would have to be toned up.
Prasad felt that these steps would help in making India a low cost film production hub in the region. In this direction, the English language speaking experts and technicians and IT expertise, especially in animation film production are the major inputs.
Prasad also mentioned about the special animation courses that are being started at Film and Television Institute, Pune and Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata.
The minister said that Indian films have enormous potential of exploring to foreign markets but the industry has to work seriously in this direction. The government on its part is playing a proactive role, which is reflected in its initiative at larger participation at Cannes Film Festival and also holding Film Bazaar at the International Film Festival in Delhi last year. He said, the ministry has decided to participate in all the major film festivals of the world.
Earlier during the session, Mukta Arts chairman Subhash Ghai, and actor-director Shashi Kapoor highlighted the problems of the film industry and invited government intervention in encouraging low-cost films by giving subsidies, providing infrastructure at beautiful locations in India, and allotting IT status to the film industry.
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
