iWorld
Twitter refuses to appear before Parliamentary Committee on IT
MUMBAI: Amid growing concern about data security, Twitter CEO and senior officials declined to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology on 11 February. The global social media giant cited “short notice of the hearing” as reason for the refusal.
Earlier the Parliamentary Committee headed by Anurag Thakur issued a summon to Twitter via official letter to discuss the issues concerning the use of social media. While 7 February was decided as the date for meeting, it was rescheduled to 11 February to provide more time to Twitter CEO and senior officials.
"It may be noted that the head of the organisation has to appear before the committee," the letter clearly mentioned according to reports. "He/She may be accompanied by another representative," it further added.
Twitter's legal, policy, trust and safety global lead Vijaya Gadde sent back a letter stating, "No one who engages publicly for Twitter India makes enforcement decisions with respect to our rules for content or accounts in India."
The letter also added that deputing a junior employee to represent Twitter at the Indian Parliamentary IT Committee has not gone down well with Indian lawmakers especially since they have no decision making authority.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
