Govt defends TRP reforms during House debate

L Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, said on Wednesday that the draft amendments aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data

by e4m Desk
Published: Aug 20, 2025 1:39 PM | 1 min read

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has defended its proposed reforms to India’s television ratings framework, as the Members of Parliament pressed for clarity on the government’s roadmap to revamp the TRP system.

Responding to questions in the Parliament on Wednesday, L Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, said draft amendments to the policy guidelines for TV rating agencies have been published on the ministry’s website for public consultation.

“The government has proposed reforms to the television audience measurement system. The draft amendments aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system accurately reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country,” Murugan was quoted by news reports.

He has also clarified that TRPs quantify the number of viewers of a channel or programme at a given time. The editorial choices on prioritising programmes or news items lie with broadcasters, Murugan noted.

The minister also reiterated that the government’s intent was to build a transparent, competitive, and technologically advanced ratings ecosystem.

Earlier this week, the MIB defended the country’s legal and institutional frameworks that protect press freedom. This came in response to a query raised in the Rajya Sabha regarding the country’s declining press freedom rankings and reported attacks on journalists.