Question : Monitoring of Contents of Programmes

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the rising contents of obscenity, vulgarity, nudity and violence in the television programmes/films including advertisements in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of channels against which action has been taken for violating Programme and Advertising Codes during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether the Government has set up any authority/centre for monitoring of contents of programmers and advertisements being telecasted on television in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the roles/rights assigned to the said authority/centre along with funds allocated for the purpose; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to monitor the contents of programmes being telecasted on Doordarshan and private channels?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
[COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

(a) & (b): No such study has been brought to the notice of the Ministry. As per existing regulating framework, all programmes and advertisements telecast on TV channels and transmitted/retransmitted through the Cable TV network are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules framed thereunder. Action is taken as per rules suo-motu and whenever violation of Codes is brought to the notice of the Ministry. These codes contain a whole range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements including content of obscenity, vulgarity and nudity in TV programmes. Details of action taken on violation of Programme and Advertisement code by Private TV channels for telecast of obscene visuals in the last three years and the current year is enclosed at Annexure.

In so far as film is concerned, Central Board of Film Certification certifies film for public exhibition in accordance with Cinematograph Act, 1952, Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 and the guidelines framed thereunder.


The Central Board of Film Certification also ensures that the film-
(i) is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impacts; and
(ii) is examined in the light of the period depicted in the film and the contemporary standards of the country and people to which the film relates, provided that the film does not deprave the morality of the audience.

(c) & (d): Ministry has set up a state-of-art Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) to look over the content telecast on Private satellite television channels on a 24x7 basis. Presently it covers 600 TV channels. An amount of Rs. 90 Crores (Rupees. Ninety Crores) has been allocated under 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) for strengthening of EMMC.


(e): Ministry has constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to look into the violations suo-motu or whenever violation of the Programme and Advertising Codes is brought to the notice of this Ministry in respect of private satellite TV channels. IMC has representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Law, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs and a representative from the industry in Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). IMC meets periodically and recommends action in respect of violations.

Ministry has also issued directions to States to set up District level and State level Monitoring Committees to regulate content telecast on cable TV channels.

In so far as Doordarshan is concerned, it follows its Code for Commercial Advertising as per norms. No such contents of obscenity, vulgarity, nudity and violence are being shown on Doordarshan Programmes/films including advertisements in the country.

******************