144 actions in 5 years: Govt steps up crackdown on broadcast violations

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting informed Parliament on Wednesday that the Centre has stepped up enforcement against violations of broadcasting and publishing norms over the past five years, issuing punitive and corrective actions that include advisories, warnings, apology scroll orders and off-air directives.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan outlined the government’s multi-layered regulatory push to curb objectionable content across television, print and digital platforms, particularly targeting obscenity, communal content and misleading narratives. 

144 actions, including warnings and off-air orders

Data shared by the ministry shows that between 2021 and 2025, a total of 144 actions were taken against private satellite TV channels for violations of the Programme Code and Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

These included 35 advisories issued to specific channels, 50 warnings, 54 orders directing apology scrolls, 3 off-air orders, 1 cancellation of permission and 1 directive mandating disclaimers. 

Officials indicated that the sharpest enforcement activity occurred in 2022 and 2023, suggesting a period of heightened scrutiny as concerns around televised content escalated.  

Three-tier grievance system tightened

The government has also reinforced a structured, three-level grievance redressal framework to ensure accountability in broadcast content: Level I: Complaints handled by the broadcaster, Level II: Industry-led self-regulating bodies, Level III: Oversight by the Central Government. 

“This layered mechanism ensures both industry participation and sovereign oversight,” the ministry noted, adding that it enables faster resolution while retaining regulatory teeth.

Beyond enforcement, the ministry has continued issuing periodic advisories to broadcasters, urging strict adherence to content norms, especially around sensitive themes such as religion, social harmony and decency.  

The Centre’s regulatory focus is not limited to television. For print media, compliance with journalistic standards is enforced through the Press Council of India, which has the authority to warn, admonish or censure publications under the Press Council Act.

In digital media, the government has operationalised the IT Rules, 2021, which prescribe a code of ethics and a similar three-tier grievance mechanism for publishers of online news and curated content.

“The framework ensures parity in accountability across legacy and digital media ecosystems,” the ministry said, underscoring its intent to create a uniform regulatory environment.

Focus on harmful and toxic content

The government reiterated that the Programme Code explicitly prohibits content that is obscene, defamatory, promotes communal attitudes, or attacks religions and communities. Advertising content is also required to avoid indecent or offensive themes.

While the reply did not detail any specific study on the psychological impact of violent or toxic content, it emphasised that “all possible steps” are being taken to curb violations across platforms, particularly those that may affect youth and adolescents.

The data signals a clear policy direction—greater intervention and tighter monitoring of media content across formats. Industry observers say the combination of advisories, punitive actions and structured grievance systems reflects a shift from reactive regulation to proactive oversight.

With digital consumption surging and content boundaries blurring, the government’s approach suggests that compliance expectations for media companies—across TV, print and online—are only set to intensify.