The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has released the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026 for public consultation, proposing a unified regulatory framework for television and radio services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The move follows the enactment of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, a landmark legislation that replaced the century-old Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. While the new law covers a broad range of telecommunications services, the MIB has been tasked with administering provisions related to television, radio, and associated broadcasting services.
The draft rules seek to consolidate multiple existing guidelines governing the broadcasting sector into a single rulebook, with the stated objective of simplifying compliance and improving ease of doing business. Once notified, the rules will replace the separate frameworks currently applicable to satellite television channels, Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) operators, private FM radio broadcasters, community radio stations, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services.
Among the policies proposed to be integrated under the new framework are the 2022 Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines for satellite television channels, the DTH Broadcasting Services Guidelines of 2001, the HITS Guidelines of 2009, the Phase III FM Radio Policy Guidelines of 2011 (as amended up to September 2024), the 2024 Community Radio Policy Guidelines, and the 2008 IPTV Guidelines.
According to the ministry, the draft rules are designed to ensure “change with continuity” by harmonising and rationalising existing authorisation conditions while preserving operational stability for industry stakeholders.
Key proposals include the introduction of a single regulatory framework in place of multiple guidelines, end-to-end digital implementation of authorisation processes, simplified approval procedures, the removal of the requirement to sign the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA), and the establishment of a transparent adjudication mechanism.
The draft rules have been published on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s website for public and inter-ministerial consultation. Stakeholders can submit inputs, comments, and suggestions to the Under Secretary (BP&L), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, by July 27, 2026, preferably via email.
