Lok Sabha Question No. 3385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Complaints on Vulgar Content used by Radio Jockeys on FM Radio
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3385 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2023

## 'COMPLAINTS ON VULGAR CONTENT USED BY RADIO JOCKEYS ON FM RADIO'

## 3385. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether any complaints have been received either from the general public or others  regarding  content  that  is  vulgar,  indecent,  offensive,  defamatory, derogatory, etc., being used by Radio Jockeys on Frequency Modulation (FM) Radio;
- (b) if so, the details of such complaints received during the last three years and the current year, State/UT and FM Radio-wise; and
- (c) the details of action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

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- (a)  to  (c):  Private  FM  Radio  channels  are  required  to  comply  with  the  terms  & conditions of Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) executed with the Ministry of  Information  &  Broadcasting.  Clause  7.6  of  the  GOPA  provides  that  the Permission  Holder  shall  ensure  that  no  content,  messages,  advertisement  or communication, transmitted in its Broadcast Channel is objectionable, obscene, unauthorized  or  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  India.  Clause  11.1  of  the  GOPA provides  that  the  permission  Holder  shall  follow  the  same  Programme  and Advertisement code as followed by All India Radio, as amended from time to time or any other applicable code, which the Central Government may prescribe from time to time. The details of complaints received and action taken thereon during the last three years i.e. 2020,2021, 2022 and the current year up to 15.03.2023 are at Annexure.

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Number of complaints

Number of complaints

Number of complaints

State

State

## Annexure

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3385 FOR REPLY ON 21.03.2023

## YEAR 2020

Details of Complaint

NIL

## YEAR 2021

Details of Complaint

NIL

## YEAR 2022

| Number complaints   | of State       | Details of Complaint                                                                             | Action Taken                                                                                                     |
|---------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Two                 | NCT of Delhi   | Complaint against Radio Jockey for deriding people of a state and making humiliating statements. | Station was advised to be careful in future and not to broadcast content in violation of permission agreement.   |
| Two                 | Madhya Pradesh | Complaint regarding using double meaning words, abuse on FM station                              | Advisory issued to all FM Radio Broadcasters on 24.02.2022 to strictly follow the All India Radio programme code |

## YEAR 2023 (up to 15.03.2023)

State

Details of Complaint

NIL

Action Taken

Action Taken

Action Taken