Lok Sabha Question No. 1045 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Guidelines for TV Channels
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B, Sougata Ray, Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1045 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2022)

## GUIDELINES FOR TV CHANNELS

## 1045.   SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.: PROF. SOUGATA RAY: SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM

Will the Minister of Information and Broadcasting be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether it is a fact that the Government has approved new guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of television channels in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- b) whether it is also true that all the stations will have to mandatorily broadcast content on issues of national importance and social relevance for atleast 30 minutes every day as per the 'Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022';
- c) if so, the objective of such mandatory directions;
- d) whether any channel is not following such mandatory directions and most of them lose their licences to operate and if so, the details thereof;
- e) whether it is a fact that the Government has listed themes that are required to be broadcast and if so, the details thereof;
- f) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  Government  may  issue  general  advisories  as  and  when required and if so, the details thereof;
- g) whether the Government will subsidise the cost of producing and airing such content for the broadcasters and if so, the details thereof; and
- h) whether  stakeholder  consultations  had  been  carried  out  with  industry  groups  before issuing the guidelines and  if so, the details indicating the dates  on  which  these consultations were held?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS {SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR}

(a) :    Yes.  Ministry  of  Information  &  Broadcasting has issued Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022 which is available in the website of this Ministry https://mib.gov.in/broadcasting/broadcasting-codes-guidelines-and-policies.

(b)  : The  Clause  35  of  the  Policy  Guidelines  for  Uplinking  and  Downlinking  of  Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022 provides that a company/LLP having permission under these guidelines  for  uplinking  a  channel  and  its  downlinking  in  India  may  undertake  public  service broadcasting for a minimum period of 30 minutes in a day on themes of national importance and of social relevance.

(c) : The objective of this provision is to spread awareness on the themes of national importance and of social relevance in public interest.

(d) :  Voluntary compliance and self-certification are the guiding principles for implementation of this provision under the guideline.

(e) :    A  company/LLP having permission under these guidelines for uplinking a channel and its downlinking  in  India  (other  than  foreign  channels  only  downlinked  in  India)  may  undertake public service broadcasting for a minimum period of 30 minutes in a day on themes of national importance and of social relevance, including the following, namely -

- (i) education and spread of literacy;
- (ii) agriculture and rural development;
- (iii) health and family welfare;

(iv) science and technology;

(v) welfare of women;

(vi) welfare of the weaker sections of the society;

(vii) protection of environment and of cultural heritage; and

(viii) national integration

The above list is not exhaustive and other themes which are of national importance and of social relevance may also qualify for being accounted under Obligation for Public Service Broadcasting.

(f) :  As per Clause 35 (3) of the guidelines, the Central Government may, from time to time, issue general advisory to the channels for telecast of content of national interest and of social relevance, and the channel shall comply with the same.

(g) :  No such provision has been made under the Guidelines.

(h) :  Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had uploaded the draft guidelines on its website on 30.04.2020  inviting  comments  from  the  broadcasters.    The  provision  of  Obligation  for  Public Service Broadcasting has been included in the Guidelines on the recommendations of Telecom Regulatory  Authority  (TRAI)  on  the  subject  'Issues  relating  to  entry  of  certain  entities  into Broadcasting  and  Distribution activities' issued on 12.11.2008. TRAI  had  finalized  its recommendations  on  the  subject  with  due  diligence,  observing  the  spirit  of  transparency  and carrying out wide ranging consultations with all the stakeholders.

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