New Delhi: In a major regulatory reform designed to streamline India’s broadcasting ecosystem, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Friday unveiled the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026 for public consultation.
Designed to streamline the country’s broadcasting ecosystem, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Friday unveiled draft rules to bring television channels, radio stations, DTH operators and other broadcasting services under a single regulatory framework.
The draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026 will replace multiple guidelines and permissions with a unified rulebook under the Telecommunications Act 2023, which had replaced the Telegraph Act of 1885 three years ago.
The proposed framework will come in place of the fragmented licensing system that has governed different broadcasting services services through separate policy guidelines.
The proposed rules will consolidate six existing policy frameworks — television channels, DTH services, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) operators, private FM radio, community radio and IPTV services — into a single set of regulations.
The draft has been placed in public domain until July 27 for consultation, observation and comments from stakeholders across the industry.
“The focus is on simplification and ease of doing business. Six guidelines are to be replaced by one harmonised set of rules. Grant of Permission Agreement (GoPA) has been done away with. Timelines, fee structures and approval routes have been made easier,” HT quoted an MIB official as saying.
Among key provisions, the draft rules state television channels, DTH operators, teleports and community radio stations will receive authorisations valid for 10 years, while television distribution services such as DTH and HITS will have a validity period of 20 years. Private FM radio authorisations will remain valid for 15 years.
Broadcasters seeking renewal must have complied with programme and advertising codes and should not have committed more than five violations during the authorisation period, as per proposed rules. Any change in ownership resulting in a change of control or management would require prior government approval.
Broadcasters will have to notify the government of changes in shareholding, foreign investment and key management personnel, while entities in sensitive segments such as news broadcasting would continue to be subject to security-clearance requirements.
