I&B Ministry
VTV & DY365 to go off air for violating programming act
MUMBAI: In two separate cases, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has asked channels VTV and DY 365 to be taken off air.
In the first case, VTV has been asked to go off air for a day on 16 December, for violating the provisions of the programme code under Cable TV Networks Regulation Act of 1995. The channel telecast a news programme namely, ‘viral truth’ on 20 March 2017 at 7 pm in which a man could be seen brutally beating up children in an orphanage and the video started trending on social media alleging that this incident occurred in RMVM school of Valsad Gujarat. However, when the channel conducted its own investigation about this video, it found that the video was of an incident in an orphanage in Egypt. While reporting the news, the channel showed disturbing visuals of the orphan kids who were beaten up and thrashed brutally by the manager.
The inter-ministerial committee believes the channel tried to sensationalise the issue to grab the attention of its viewers and such visuals not only offend good taste/decency but also denigrate children by showing them being brutally tortured.
In the second case, an Assamese channel DY 365 has been asked to go off air for three days from 15-18 December 2017. It telecast a news report on 6 June 2017 at 12.59 pm in which a man could be seen tossing a new-born baby up and down in the air. He hurls and slings the baby in every possible manner and direction without a shred of care and concern. The video meant to expose an extremely dangerous superstition allegedly prevalent in some parts of Assam where people believe that undergoing this ritual will keep the child safe.
The ministry believes the visuals are extremely disturbing, and not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition and has recommended that the channel may be handed Three days off-air penalty for violation of the provisions of programme & advertising codes.
The channel was in violation of Rule 6 (1) (a), (l) & (o) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995.
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I&B Ministry
Government sets up AI governance group to steer policy
AIGEG to align ministries, assess jobs impact, guide AI deployment.
MUMBAI: If artificial intelligence is the engine, the government is now building the dashboard and making sure everyone reads from the same screen. The Centre has constituted a new inter-ministerial body to coordinate India’s approach to AI, formalising a key recommendation from its governance framework and the Economic Survey. The AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG), set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, will act as the central platform to align AI-related policy across ministries, regulators and departments, an attempt to bring coherence to what has so far been a fragmented and fast-evolving landscape.
The group will be chaired by union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, with minister of state Jitin Prasada as vice chairperson. Its composition reflects both technological and economic priorities, bringing together the principal scientific adviser, the chief economic adviser, and the CEO of NITI Aayog, alongside key secretaries from telecommunications, economic affairs and science and technology. A representative from the National Security Council Secretariat is also part of the group, while the MeitY secretary will serve as member convenor.
At its core, AIGEG is designed to do two things: coordinate and anticipate. On the policy front, it will review existing regulatory mechanisms, issue guidance across sectors and ensure companies remain compliant with evolving legal frameworks. Beyond that, it will oversee national initiatives on AI governance, with a focus on enabling responsible innovation rather than merely regulating it.
The economic dimension is equally central. The group has been tasked with assessing how AI-driven automation could reshape jobs identifying which roles are most at risk, where those impacts may be geographically concentrated, and whether technology will augment or replace human labour. Based on these assessments, it will develop mitigation strategies and transition plans, signalling a more proactive stance on workforce disruption.
In parallel, AIGEG will work with industry stakeholders to chart a long-term roadmap for AI adoption, categorising use cases into “deploy”, “pilot” or “defer” buckets depending on readiness factors such as data availability, skill levels and regulatory clarity. The aim is to move from broad ambition to structured execution deciding not just what can be built, but what should be built now.
The group will function as the apex layer in India’s AI governance architecture, supported by a Technology and Policy Expert Committee that will track global developments, emerging risks and regulatory priorities. Together, the two bodies are expected to shape both the pace and direction of AI adoption in the country.
In a landscape where technology often outruns policy, the creation of AIGEG signals an attempt to close that gap ensuring that India’s AI journey is not just rapid, but also coordinated, accountable and economically grounded.
