New Delhi: The government of India has released an order to put in online news portal, current affairs content (online), online films and audio-visual programmes, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB); Cabinet Secretariat issued a notification on Tuesday night.
The notification, signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, said the decision has been taken in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of Article 77 of the Constitution, by amending the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 and it will come into effect immediately.
This will give MIB the power to monitor policies that are available on online platforms for news, audio, visual content and video. The government regulations also apply to the news on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
According to a notification, content made available by online providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video including others will also come under the ministry.
“These rules may be called the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Three Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Amendment Rules, 2020. They shall come into force at once.
The notification stated that, “In the Government of India (Allocation of Business, 1961, in THE SECOND SCHEDULE, under the heading ‘MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SOOCHANA AUR PRASARAN MANTRALAYA)’ after entry 22, the following sub-heading and entries shall be inserted, namely:- VA. DIGITAL/ONLINE MEDIA. 22A. Films and Audio-Visual programmes made available by online content providers. 22B. News and current affairs content on online platforms.”
