Lok Sabha Question No. 4515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Adult Content in Media and Films
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Khagen Murmu, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4515 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## ADULT CONTENT IN MEDIA AND FILMS

## 4515.  SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  number  of  adult  movies  (A certificate) being released in major languages across the country, according to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), if so, the details thereof during the last three years;
- (b) whether Government has received complaints against violation of norms/rules regarding publishing/broadcasting/airing content of violence/obscenity  in  various  media,  if  so,  details  of  action  taken  on  such violations during the last three years;
- (c) whether  Government  has  made  any  study  about  the  adverse  impact  of increasing  adult  content  and  violence  in  internet/print/electronic  media  on society including youth and adolescents, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR):

## (a):    No,  Sir.  There  has  been  a  decrease  in  the  number  of  films certified under 'A' category by the Central Board of Film

Certification  (CBFC)  in  the  last  three  years  as  per  available  data from CBFC.

The details of films certified under category 'U', 'UA' and 'A' during the last 3 years are as under:

|         |    U |   UA |   A |
|---------|------|------|-----|
| 2016-17 | 1209 | 1620 | 582 |
| 2017-18 |  836 | 1793 | 465 |
| 2018-19 | 1352 | 2515 | 420 |

(b) to (d):   As  per  existing  regulatory  framework,  all  programmes and  advertisements  telecast  on  private  satellite  TV  channels  and transmitted/re-transmitted through the Cable TV network are required  to  adhere  to  the  Programme  Code  and  Advertising  Code prescribed  under  the  Cable  Television  Networks  (Regulation)  Act, 1995 and Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 framed thereunder. The Act does not provide  for  pre-censorship  of  any  programme  or advertisement telecast on such TV channels. However, it provides that  all  programmes  and  advertisements  telecast  on  such  TV channels  should  be  in  conformity  with  the  prescribed  Programme Code and Advertising Code enshrined in the said Act and the rules framed  thereunder,  which  contain  a  wide  range  of  parameters  to regulate programmes and advertisements on TV channels including the  content  which  is  likely  to  give  rise  to  obscenity  or  which  is

likely  to  lead  to  violence.    Details  of  action  taken  on  violation  of Programme  and  Advertising  Codes  by  private  TV  channels  for telecast of content of obscenity and violence during the last three years are enclosed at Annexure I.

It  is  further  stated  that  the  Ministry  has  set  up  Electronic  Media Monitoring  Centre  (EMMC)  to  monitor  the  content  of  private  TV channels with reference to the violation of Programme and Advertising  Codes.    An  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  has  also been set up in the Ministry to look into the specific complaints or suo-motu take cognizance against the violation of Programme and Advertising  Codes.  IMC  has  representatives  from  the  Ministry  of Home  Affairs,  Defence,  External  Affairs,  Law,  Women  and  Child Development,  Health  and  Family  Welfare,  Consumer  Affairs  and Information & Broadcasting and a representative from the industry in  Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  (ASCI).  The  IMC  meets periodically  and  recommends  action  in  respect  of  violation  of Programme and Advertising  Codes by  private  TV  channels.    Apart from this, the Ministry has also issued directions to States to set up District  level  and  State  level  Monitoring  Committees  to  regulate content telecast on cable TV channels.

Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has also set up a mechanism for self-regulation through Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) in case of non-news channels. As part of this, IBF has laid down Content Code & Certification  Rules  2011  covering  an  entire gamut of content-related principles ad criteria for television broadcast.

The Press Council of India constituted under the Press Council Act of  1978,  has  issued  a  compendium  titled  'Norms  of  Journalistic Conduct' to specifically promote the standard of the media to act as a  reference  guide  in  varying  circumstances  for  the  journalists. Complaints regarding violations of publishing content are considered and adjudicated by the Press Council of India under its mandate of preserving the freedom of the press and of maintaining and improving the standards of press in India.

***

## ANNEXURE I

## ANNEXURE  AS  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4515 FOR ANSWER ON 19.07.2019

Action  Taken  by  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  on  violation  of Programme and  Advertisement  code  by  Private  TV  channels  for  telecasting content depicting violence, obscenity during the last three years.

2016

|   S. No. | Name of the Channel      | Details of Content on TV Channels                                               | Details of action taken                                                                                                                                                                     |
|----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Care World               | Telecast of a programme "Kya Karun Main AB?" on unnatural sex.                  | A warning dated 24.05.2016 was issued to the channel.                                                                                                                                       |
|        2 | F TV                     | Telecast of a programme namely fotos in alleged violation of the programme code | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                          |
|        3 | CVR English News Channel | Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies            | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                          |
|        4 | Oscar Movies             | Telecast of 'A' certified films on various dates.                               | An Advisory dated 06.06.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                          |
|        5 | Care World               | Telecast of obscene programme 'Kya Karu Mai Aab                                 | An order was issued on 02.11.2016 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for seven day                                                                  |
|        6 | News Time Assam          | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of minor boy                     | An order dated 2.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day ( to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
|        6 | News Time Assam          | Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies            | An order dated 2.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day ( to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
|        6 | New Time Assam           | Telecast of News story defaming the image of MLA and denigrating women.         | An order dated 2.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day ( to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
|        7 | MBC TV                   | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of sexually assaulted victims    | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                            |
|        8 | People TV                | Telecast of News story showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies                | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                            |

| 9.   | Reporter TV   | Telecast of News story showing disturbing visuals of violence.   | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel   |
|------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|

2017

|   S. No. | Name of the Channel   | Details of Content on TV Channels                                                                            | Details of action taken                                                                                                  |
|----------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | TV-9 (Marathi)        | Telecast of news report showing disturbing visuals of death of a man who set himself on fire                 | An Advisory dated 28.2.2017 issued to the channel for violation of Programme Code                                        |
|        2 | All TV channel        | Telecast of Condom Advertisements between 10:00 PM - 6:00 AM while telecasting advertisements on TV channels | An Advisory dated 11.12.2017 issued to all TV Channels                                                                   |
|        3 | V TV channel          | Telecast a News programme 'Viral Truth' showing disturbing visuals of violence.                              | An order was issued on 12.12.2017 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day |

2018

|   S. No. | Name of the Channels   | Details of Content on TV Channels                                         | Details of Action Taken                                                                                   |
|----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | CVR Health             | Telecast of obscene programme 'Healthy Nights' on 29.12.2016 & 30.12.2018 | An Order dated 05.09.2018 was issued to take the channel off air for 3 days from 08.09.2018 to 11.09.2018 |

***