I&B Ministry
Steps underway for upgradation of FTII: Rathore
NEW DELHI: A sum of Rs eighty crore has been set aside for the upgradation plans of the Film and Television of India in the Twelfth Plan..
The performance of the Institute is periodically assessed through meetings of the Society and Governing Council, Audit and Annual Report submitted by the Institute, and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
There is a regular mechanism of periodic audit including audit by C&AG, meetings of the Society and Governing Council of the Institute which include representatives from the Government and domain experts.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told Parliament that the programmes being undertaken for upgradation are:
i. Up-gradation of existing infrastructure of FTII and creation of additional infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the Institute. This includes construction of new main theatre, class room theatres, student hostels etc.
ii. Replacement of obsolete equipment and procurement of modern equipment to keep pace with the technological changes in film and television industry including HD technology.
Meanwhile, the syllabus of FTII had been modified recently to provide for semester system, modular structure, choice based credit system, continuous evaluation etc. that would provide more flexibility to the students in the process of learning and corresponding monitoring of outcomes thereof.
I&B Ministry
India tightens anti-piracy law, blocks sites and Telegram channels
New rules bring jail terms, fines and faster takedowns of illegal content
NEW DELHI: The Government of India has stepped up its fight against film piracy, invoking stricter provisions under the Cinematograph Amendment Act 2023 to crack down on unauthorised recording and distribution.
The law now imposes tougher penalties, including jail terms ranging from three months to three years and fines starting at Rs. 3 lakh, which can go up to 5 per cent of a film’s production cost. The provisions target both illegal recording in cinemas and unauthorised online transmission.
In a fresh enforcement push, authorities have notified the Telegram platform to act against piracy, leading to the identification of 3,142 channels allegedly distributing copyrighted content without permission. In parallel, access to around 800 piracy websites has been blocked through internet service providers.
The action has been taken under the Information Technology Act 2000, which empowers the government to direct intermediaries to remove unlawful content. The framework is further reinforced by the Information Technology Rules 2021, requiring platforms to act swiftly when notified of violations.
An institutional mechanism is also in place, allowing copyright holders and authorised representatives to file complaints through designated nodal officers. Once verified, these complaints trigger takedown notices to intermediaries for disabling access to infringing content.
The update was shared in Parliament by Government of India minister of state information and broadcasting l murugan in response to a query from Parimal Nathwani.
The government’s latest move signals a sharper, more coordinated approach to tackling piracy across both physical and digital channels. For the film industry, it is a step towards protecting revenues, while for viewers, it reinforces the shift towards legitimate content consumption.
