By Soniya:
The Government of India has released the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026, proposing a common regulatory framework for television and radio broadcasting services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The draft rules aim to replace multiple existing guidelines with a single, modern framework that governs broadcasting services across the country. The move is intended to reduce regulatory complexity while ensuring broadcasters contribute to public awareness and social development.
Under the proposed rules, television channels must broadcast at least 30 minutes of public-interest content daily between 6 AM and 11 PM. Similarly, private FM radio stations will be required to air one hour of public-interest programming every day.
The public-interest content will focus on themes such as education, health, agriculture, women’s welfare, environmental protection, science and technology, cultural heritage, and national integration.
For private FM radio stations, the rules maintain the existing restriction on independently producing news bulletins. They may continue to broadcast unaltered news from Akashwani and share information related to weather, traffic, sports, examinations, and public notices.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has invited stakeholder feedback on the draft rules until July 27, 2026. The proposed framework marks a significant step toward modernizing India’s broadcasting regulations and strengthening public service communication.
