Digital news portals, online films, content providers now under I&B Ministry

Our Correspondent

The Government of India issued an order on Wednesday, bringing digital or online media, films and audio-visual programmes, news and current affairs content under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Currently, there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content.
The development was announced in a gazette notification on Wednesday. The notification declared that the President has signed the order to include online films, digital news and current affairs content under the purview of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry headed by Prakash Javadekar

The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules amended to include digital or online media, films and audio-visual programmes, news and current affairs content. Govt of India (Allocation of Business) Rules amended to include digital or online media, films and audio-visual programmes, news and current affairs content.

While the Press Council of India looks after the print media, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) takes care of the news channels, the Advertising Standards Council of India is for advertising while the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) monitors films.

The Modi government had earlier taken the stand that it won’t curb freedom of the media, and Javadekar had stated that the Modi government won’t take any step that may curb media freedom. He also said that there should be some kind of regulation on over-the-top platforms, as there is for the print and electronic media and films as well.