Question : Guidelines for Live Telecast of Sensitive Operations

(a) whether the Government has issued any specific guidelines regarding the live telecast of sensitive operations undertaken by the National Defence Forces and the National Security Agencies like NSG, NIA etc. from time to time;

(b) if so, the details of the guidelines with specific date for issuing the same;
(c) whether any incidences of violation of such guidelines by any of the broadcasting news channels across the country have come to the notice of the Government; and
(d) if so, the details of such incidences along with the action taken by the Government in the form of issuing of notice or calling for an explanation or imposing any penalty in this regard?

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (d) : As per existing regulatory framework, all programmes telecast on TV channels are required to be in conformity with the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.


Rule 6(1)(p) of the Rules, which was inserted in March 2015 provides that no programme should contain live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation by security forces and media coverage shall be restricted to periodic briefing by an officer designated by the appropriate Government, till such operation concludes.
In case of violation of Programme Code appropriate action is taken.
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