Question : Regulatory Framework for Online Media-News Channels

(a) whether the Government has constituted a committee to frame and suggest a regulatory framework for online media/news portals, including digital broadcasting and entertainment/infotainment sites and news/media aggregators and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the committee has also been asked to recommend “appropriate policy formulation” for online media, news portal and online content platforms; and

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the terms of reference and time frame given to submit the report?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

(a) to (c) The Ministry of I&B had constituted a Committee on 4th April, 2018 for framing regulations for online media/news portals and online content including digital broadcasting which encompasses entertainment/infotainment and news/media aggregators. However, since Government had constituted an inter-Ministerial Committee on “Investment in Critical National Infrastructure, Digital Broadcasting and related issues” which in its first meeting held on 10th May, 2018 observed that some of the Terms of References (ToRs) and issues of the two Committees are common, a decision was taken to dovetail the ToR of the Committee constituted by this Ministry with that of the Committee on “Investment in Critical National Infrastructure, Digital Broadcasting and related issues”.

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