News Broadcasting
Sudarshan News’ UPSC Jihad show offensive, breached Programme Code: MIB to SC
NEW DELHI: In an affidavit presented to the Supreme Court of India, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has stated that Sudarshan News’ controversial programme Bindas Bol – UPSC Jihad is “against good taste and decency, attacks religious communities, and contains defamatory and obscene half-truths.”
"The ministry is of the opinion that while freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right, the tone and tenor of the episodes telecast do indicate that the channel has, through the various utterances and audio-visual content, breached the programme code," MIB stated in the affidavit.
The ministry has not barred the airing of future episodes of Bindas Bol, but issued guidelines to Sudarshan TV to prevent any Programme Code violation, by ensuring that the show doesn’t offend against "good taste or decency"; doesn’t contain anything "false, defamatory, suggestive innuendoes or half-truths"; and doesn’t attack "religions or communities."
It further cautioned Sudarshan News to be careful henceforth, and if any violation of the Programme Code happens in future, the channel will be subjected to strict penal action.
“The channel should review the content of the future episodes of the programme Bindas Bol – UPSC Jihad and the audio-visual content should be suitably moderated and modified, so as to ensure there is no violation of Programme Code,” the MIB said.
The Delhi high court had stayed the telecast of the programme on August 28 and the next day had disposed of the plea with a direction to the ministry to take a decision on the prohibition of the show. It was directed to the channel and its editor to not broadcast the show till such time as the ministry makes its decision.
On 15 September, the apex court had put on hold the telecast of the show. Then on 26 October, the ministry told the apex court that it was ready with its order in relation to a show-cause notice issued to Sudarshan TV based on the recommendation of an inter-ministerial group, which had viewed all the episodes of the channel’s Bindas Bol programme.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
