Astha
News and audio-visuals published on online platforms will now be looked at by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The Second Schedule, in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, was amended to include Audio-Visual programmes and news and current affairs under online content.
The notification is a significant move as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will now keep a check on content broadcasted on OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.
The notification read:
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution, the President hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Three Hundred and Fifty Seventh Amendment Rules, 2020.
(2) They shall come into force at once.
2. In the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, in THE SECOND SCHEDULE, under the heading “MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SOOCHANA AUR PRASARAN MANTRALAYA)” after entry 22, the following sub-heading and entries shall be inserted, namely:-
“VA. DIGITAL/ONLINE MEDIA
22A. Films and Audio-Visual programmes made available by online content providers.
22B. News and current affairs content on online platforms.”