Question : Vulgarity in Doordarshan

(a) whether different Doordarshan Kendras broadcast scenes which are full of obscenity and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has received suggestion representations to censor the broadcast of such advertisements, vulgar scenes and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(c) whether the Government has taken/ proposed to take any new initiative to regulate the different aspects of advertisements in the country and if so, the details thereof ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)

(a): No. Madam, Prasar Bharati has informed that all programmes and advertisements of Doordarshan are telecast as per the Doordarshan broadcast code which is in conformity with Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 enshrined under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The details of the said codes are available on the web site of Doordarshan namely www.ddindia.gov.in and that of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting namely mib.nic.in.

(b) & (c): Certain complaints / representations have been received which are against private satellite TV channels. The telecast of all content on television is regulated under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Networks Rules framed thereunder. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of content telecast on such TV channels. However, it prescribes that all programmes and advertisements telecast on such TV channels should be in conformity with the prescribed programme code and advertisement code enshrined in the Act and Rules framed thereunder. The said codes contain a whole range of parameters to regulate programme and advertisements on TV channels including those which are considered obscene. The concerns raised in the representation / suggestions received are addressed as per the provisions of the said Rules / Acts referred above. The details of action taken against those TV channels which are found guilty of telecast of obscene and vulgar advertisement during the last three years and current year is annexed.

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