I&B Ministry
150 govt websites earn quality certification
From PMO to PSUs, India’s digital portals ace the GIGW standards test as of Jan 2026.
MUMBAI: Clicking all the right buttons, 150 government websites have proudly flaunted their Certified Quality Website (CQW) badges, earning top marks under the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) proof that not every online government page is a bureaucratic black hole.
In a crisp Rajya Sabha reply to MP Mallikarjun Kharge, minister of state for electronics and IT Jitin Prasada revealed that as of 20 January 2026, the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate had issued exactly 150 valid CQW certifications. That’s a solid lineup, 116 snagged by Central Government portals, six by State Government sites, 14 by Public Sector Undertakings, plus a handful for statutory bodies (2), autonomous bodies (5), e-voting platforms (5), and even two Central Government mobile apps.
The breakdown underscores how the voluntary scheme valid for three years with mandatory re-certification – has spread its quality net wide. High-profile heavyweights like the prime minister’s office, president’s secretariat, CERT-In, UIDAI, CBSE, TRAI, Press Information Bureau, and various ministry hubs have all passed muster. Even critical digital infrastructure, including e-voting setups and financial gateways, made the cut.
Not everyone’s a winner, though, eight hopefuls were shown the digital door for failing to meet GIGW rules. Most current certificates rolled out under GIGW version 2.0, with fresher ones nodding to the upgraded 3.0 benchmarks, a sign the bar keeps rising. Fresh approvals stretch into January 2026, with validity ticking on through 2028 and 2029 for the newest batch.
The certifications date back as far as 2008, but the bulk of today’s valid ones hail from 2023–2026, reflecting a recent push for polished, user-friendly government web presence. Full details? They’re neatly listed on the STQC website for anyone keen to browse the certified club.
In an era where clicking “government site” often means bracing for glitches, these 150 standouts are quietly proving that when it comes to quality, some portals really do load with style.
I&B Ministry
MIB reiterates IPTV self declaration rules, warns against agents
Advisory dated April 22, 2026 flags no fee, no third party role in filings.
MUMBAI: Before the screens light up, the paperwork must too and the government is reminding players not to outsource the basics. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a fresh advisory to IPTV service providers, reiterating the mandatory process for filing self-declarations before launching services and cautioning against the use of unauthorised intermediaries.
The advisory, dated April 22, 2026, anchors its guidance in the IPTV policy framework issued on September 8, 2008. Under these rules, all telecom licensees and cable operators including MSOs and LCOs are required to submit a self-certified declaration prior to commencing IPTV operations.
The process, the ministry emphasised, is deliberately simple. Providers must file the declaration in a prescribed format with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Department of Telecommunications, and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The form captures basic operational details such as licence or registration information, proposed start date, service area, and network infrastructure.
Importantly, the ministry underscored that the filing requires no third-party assistance and carries no fee effectively shutting the door on consultants or agents claiming to “fast-track” approvals.
In a pointed warning, the advisory clarified that no external entity has any role in processing IPTV self-declarations and cannot expedite submissions. Stakeholders have been advised to engage only with designated government officials and remain cautious of unauthorised facilitators.
For queries, operators have been directed to reach out through the ministry’s official communication channels. The advisory was issued by Shiv Ram Meena, Under Secretary to the Government of India.
In a sector where compliance can often feel layered, the message is straightforward: file it yourself, file it right, and don’t pay for what’s meant to be free.
