India MIB issues new guidelines for private satellite TV channels

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued new guidelines for private satellite TV channels on Wednesday. MIB ordered channels to avoid broadcasting content that promotes anti-national sentiments or religious hatred in TV debates and panel discussions. The ministry advised channels to ensure accuracy and authenticity when using Generative AI for news presentation and graphics. MIB prohibited live coverage of anti-terror operations by security forces, restricting reporting to official briefings. MIB mandated that visuals of violence, natural disasters, or major accidents must include time stamps to avoid public panic. MIB warned against revealing names, photos, family details, or identifying information of sexual assault victims. MIB mandated that only official maps recognized by the Survey of India be used when displaying Indian maps. The central government warned that channels violating these rules will face legal action under the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995.

For Indian-origin households in the U.S., these new rules mean stricter content standards and potential legal risks for channels that violate the new guidelines.