Lok Sabha Question No. 805 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: National Broadcasting Policy
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Adoor Prakash, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 805 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021)

NATIONAL BROADCASTING POLICY.

805. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE : SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  a  Draft  National  Broadcasting Policy, if so, the details along with the aims and objectives thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  consulted  various  stake  holders  in  this regard  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  response  of  the  various  stake holders thereto;

(c) the time by which the policy is likely to come into force;

- (d)  whether  broadcasting  Industry  has  requested  Government  to  grant infrastructure  status  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  response  of  the Government thereon; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  help  media  and  entertainment sector to contribute significantly to India's stated mission to becoming a five trillion dollar economy?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY  INDUSTRIES  AND  PUBLIC  ENTERPRISES  (SHRI  PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) No, sir.

- (b) However,  Government  has  initiated  a  consultation  process with  stakeholders  like  industry,  academia  and  expert  bodies  in order to create an enabling environment for ensuring transparency, non-discrimination, consumer protection and orderly growth of the Broadcasting  sector.  The  feedback  received  includes,  inter  alia, recommendations  to  achieve  universal reach  of broadcasting, improve choice of content, enable a level playing field for sectoral growth  and  enhance  global  outreach  of  broadcast  content  from India.
- (c)    The  formulation  of  a  policy  like  National  Broadcasting  Policy has  multi-dimensional  implications  and  it  needs  to  be  firmed  up after  due  process.  Therefore, no  time frame can be indicated for the finalization of the policy.
- (d) A proposal for grant of Infrastructure Status to the Distribution Segment of the Broadcasting Sector, as requested by the industry, was submitted to the nodal Department viz. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. The Department of Economic Affairs, however, did not agree to the proposal for not meeting the specified criteria.
- (e) The  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  continues  to create an enabling environment for sustained growth of media and

entertainment sector, facilitate value based wholesome entertainment and effectively disseminate information on government  policies,  programmes  and  achievements.  With  the continuous review of policies / programmes, steps are being taken to  improve  the  ease  of  doing  business  and  to  strengthen  the broadcasting eco-system in India.

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