OTT platforms to add captions, audio descriptions under new MIB accessibility rules

All fresh content released on streaming platforms must, within 36 months of the notification, include at least one accessibility feature each for viewers with hearing and visual impairments

by e4m Staff
Published: Feb 9, 2026 6:12 PM | 2 min read

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has rolled out a detailed set of accessibility norms for over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, aimed at better serving audiences with hearing and visual disabilities. The guidelines direct platforms to gradually embed features such as captions, audio descriptions and Indian Sign Language interpretation across their content catalogues, according to media reports.

Formally titled the Guidelines for Accessibility of Content on Platforms of Publishers of Online Curated Content (OTT Platforms) for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment, the framework was issued on February 6, 2026 through an office memorandum. It will be applicable to all OTT content publishers as well as their respective self-regulatory bodies.

The policy is anchored in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, which places a statutory obligation on authorities to provide accessible information and communication technologies. The ministry has also referenced India’s international commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), alongside the objectives of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), as the guiding principles behind the move. According to MIB, the guidelines extend the accessibility standards first introduced for television content in 2019 to the OTT ecosystem.

As per the new rules, all fresh content released on streaming platforms must, within 36 months of the notification, include at least one accessibility feature each for viewers with hearing and visual impairments. These measures include:

Closed or open captions and/or Indian Sign Language (ISL) support for hearing-impaired users
Audio description (AD) tracks for visually-impaired audiences

OTT platforms will also be required to clearly highlight the availability of such features—using markers like CC, AD and ISL—at the time of content launch, including in trailers, teasers and other promotional assets.

Beyond content-specific measures, the guidelines mandate that OTT applications and websites across devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, desktops and web interfaces, must be compatible with assistive technologies, ensuring that navigation and user interfaces are accessible to persons with disabilities.