The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has undertaken several policy initiatives to facilitate a vibrant information order in the last ten years. These measures have aimed at bringing about a paradigm shift in the key indicators constituting the critical domains within the Information, Broadcasting and Film sector. The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry has enabled the discourse of the ‘India Story’ to be disseminated across different platforms. The Ministry has also aimed at providing quality information to the masses, thereby ensuring that the inclusive growth perspective is spread.
In
the Broadcasting Sector, the Ministry has pursued policies with a view to
harness the benefits of technology and ensure that a framework is built
enabling growth and change for the Broadcasting landscape in the country. Currently,
India is one of the largest Broadcasting industries in the world. The total number of TV channels has increased
from 130 in 2004 to 788 in 2014. The country today has the third largest TV
market with close to 154 million TV households, next only to China and USA. Concurrently, the size of the Television
Industry has witnessed an exponential growth from Rs. 18,300 Crore in 2006 and is
expected to be valued at Rs. 50,140 Crore in 2014.
Broadcasting
sector in India has benefitted from a series of policy initiatives launched by
the Ministry. The digitization process has brought about a paradigm shift in
the sector ensuring transparency which subsequently has defined the contours of
orderly growth. Two phases of cable TV digitization has been completed. A total
of 3 Crore Set Top Boxes have been installed in these phases. The remaining two
phases are expected to be completed by December 2014. The introduction of
various policies and guidelines across the broadcasting space has enabled the
industry to reach out and engage with the diverse consumer base in the country.
Some of the key policy guidelines implemented by the Ministry have been as
follows: Policy guidelines for up-linking and down-linking of TV channels (amended
in 2011), Policy guidelines for HITS Broadcasting Services (2009), Policy
guidelines for IPTV (2008), Revision of FDI Policy in five segments of
Broadcasting Sector (2012), Policy guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in
India (2014), Policy guidelines for Community Radio Stations (2002 and amended
in 2006), Policy guidelines for FM radio Phase-II & III, Policy
guidelines on direct to home services (
DTH)( 2001). These guidelines have ensured an enabling environment for the
broadcasting industry in India to grow and adhere to International standards.
The
policies initiated by the Ministry to promote the FM component in Radio have
ensured a vibrant growth in the sector. While 245 FM Channels were launched in
85 cities since 2005, in the third phase 839 channels are proposed to be
launched in 294 cities.Due to the impetus given by the FM policy, the size of
the Radio industry has grown from 600 Crore in 2006 and is expected to be
valued at 1540 Crore in 2014. One of the
key thrust areas of the Ministry in the past several years has been to empower
the local communities through the Community Radio movement. Necessary changes
have been brought about in policy to ensure a wider participation amongst
stakeholders. The number of operational Community Radio Stations has increased from
64 in 2009 to 163 in 2014.
The inauguration of the National Media Centre (NMC) by the Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi on 24th August, 2013, has
been one of the key highlights to facilitate a state of art communication
centre with ultra modern facilities for greater interaction between the Government and
the media. Similarly, in the Print Media segment several policies have
been issued and implemented for the qualitative growth and liberalization of
the sector.
In the Films sector, The Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting constituted a panel under the Chairmanship of
Shri Mukul Mudgal, Retired Chief Justice, High Court of Punjab and Haryana to
examine issues of certification under the Cinematograph Act 1952. The Committee reviewed major areas of concern pertaining to the following:
Advisory Panels; Guidelines for certification and issues such as portrayal of
women, obscenity and communal disharmony; Classification of Films; Treatment of
Piracy; Jurisdiction of the Appellate Tribunal; Review of the provisions of the
Cinematograph Act, 1952.The committee has recently submitted its report which
is being reviewed by the Ministry.
One of the key
highlights of the films sector has been the National Museum of Indian Cinema
(NMIC) showcasing India's rich film heritage over the past 100 years. This
initiative is a small tribute of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
to the great film heritage of India. The Museum is situated in the 6,000
square-foot Gulshan Mahal - a heritage building. The museum will be a
ready-reckoner of the history of Indian cinema showcasing technological aspects
of production and screening of films, as well as its social aspects during the
past 100 years. Through its interactive galleries, it will trace the evolution
of celluloid from the Lumiere Brothers, Raja Harishchandra onwards, and
showcase Indian cinema in three stages - silent era, golden era and the modern
era. It will portray the footsteps taken by Indian cinema, from the period
of silent films to the studio period, and then recreate the times when stars
and mega stars dominated the silver screen.
Courtesy: Press Information Bureau (pib.nic.in)
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