While the rules are efficient from November 9, officers of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting mentioned channels will probably be given time to conceptualise and create such content material.

Under the brand new pointers, at the very least half-hour are to be given daily to telecast content material pertaining to “public service and national interest”, for which eight themes have been given to channels for creation of content material. The rationale behind the transfer, in response to the federal government, is that airwaves are public property and must be utilized in the very best curiosity of society.

“As airwaves/ frequencies are public property and need to be used in the best interest of the society, a company/LLP having permission under these guidelines for uplinking a channel and its downlinking in India (other than foreign channels only downlinked in India) may undertake public service broadcasting for a minimum period of 30 minutes in a day on themes of national importance and of social relevance, including… (i) education and spread of literacy; (ii) agriculture and rural development; (iii) health and family welfare; (iv) science and technology; (v) welfare of women; (vi) welfare of the weaker sections of the society; (vii) protection of environment and of cultural heritage; and (viii) national integration,” acknowledged the coverage pointers doc.

Apurva Chandra, I&B Secretary, mentioned, “After consultation with broadcasters and other stakeholders, we will soon be issuing a specific advisory pertaining to the time slot for the telecast of such content and the date of implementation.”

Once carried out, the Ministry, he mentioned, will monitor the channels for such content material, and in case somebody is discovered to be non-compliant, an evidence will probably be sought.

The situation applies to all channels, besides these talked about particularly as exempt, officers mentioned, including {that a} detailed advisory on this regard will probably be issued quickly.

The obligation will exempt sure classes, the place this might not be possible, say the rules. “The channels may… appropriately modulate their content to fulfil the obligation… except where it may not be feasible, such as in the case of sports channels, etc,” it says.

Officials mentioned exemption may additionally apply to wildlife channels and international channels, in addition to reside telecast in case of sports activities channels. The authorities will, every now and then, challenge normal advisory to the channels for telecast of content material in nationwide curiosity, and the channel shall adjust to the identical, the rules say.

Besides, it has been mandated for the TV channels uplinking in frequency bands apart from C-band to encrypt their alerts. For the uplinking and downlinking of a satellite tv for pc TV channel, the applying now “shall be subject to clearance and approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and wherever considered necessary, of other authorities,” the brand new pointers acknowledged.

The pointers ease compliance for TV channels in numerous different areas – similar to no prior permission wanted (solely registration) for reside telecast of occasions; permitting Indian teleports to uplink international channels; easing permissions to the businesses/ LLPs registered in India for uplinking and downlinking of TV channels; and short-term uplinking of a reside occasion.

Broadcast firms may even be allowed to uplink international channels from Indian teleports, which might create employment alternatives and make India a teleport hub for different nations, officers mentioned.

The new pointers additionally permit a information company to get permission for a five-year interval as in opposition to one 12 months at current.

The penalty clauses have additionally been rationalised and separate nature of penalties have been proposed for several types of contraventions as in opposition to uniform penalty at current, officers mentioned.