Question : Sensationalization of News

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of high decibel, sensationalistic and slanderous news programmes/debates being hosted on Indian news channels and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is of the view that such programmes lack civility and have an adverse impact on the viewers and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether it is a fact that the Government has received complaints against news channels violating the broadcasting guidelines and broadcasting fake news, hate and divisive agenda during the last three years and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government against such news channels;
(d) whether it is also a fact that the Government is planning to initiate any code of conduct or broad guidelines for the debates that happen on electronic media and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)
(a) to (b): All programmes telecast on private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme Code laid down in Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
The Programme Code inter alia provides that no programme should contain anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths and should not criticize, malign or slander any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country.

The Ministry also issues Advisories from time to time to private satellite TV channels for adhering to the Programme Code.

(c): The Government has an institutional mechanism for taking action in respect of private TV channels which are found to violate the Programme Code. During 2018-19 to 2020-21, the Government has taken action in respect of 126 cases by issuance of Advisories, Warnings, Apology Scroll Orders and Off-air Orders.

(d) & (e): The Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Rules, inter alia contains broad guidelines relating to content broadcast on private Television channels. The Central Government has amended the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 vide notification No. G.S.R. 416(E) dated 17.06.2021 to provide for a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/ complaints of violation of Programme Code and Advertising Codes of the broadcast by Television channels. The Rules provide for three level complaint redressal mechanism; Level I by the broadcaster, Level II by the self regulating bodies of the broadcasters, and Level III by oversight mechanism of the Central Government.
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