The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initiated 144 enforcement measures against private satellite television channels between 2021 and 2025 for violations of the Programme and Advertising Codes under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the Rajya Sabha was informed.
In a written reply to an unstarred question by Raghav Chadha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan said private satellite channels are required to strictly adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes framed under the 1995 Act and related rules.
According to data placed before Parliament, the Ministry undertook 43 actions in 2021, 52 in 2022, 37 in 2023, four in 2024 and eight in 2025, totalling 144 measures over five years. The highest number of interventions was recorded in 2022, followed by 2021 and 2023, with a marked decline in 2024 and 2025.
The enforcement steps included 35 advisories, 50 warnings and 54 directions to broadcast apology scrolls. In more serious cases, the Ministry issued three off-air orders and cancelled permission in one instance. One direction to carry a disclaimer was also issued during the period.
The Minister stated that the Codes prohibit content that attacks religions or communities, contains contemptuous references to religious groups, promotes communal attitudes, or maligns individuals and sections of society.
He further noted that the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, notified on 17 June 2021, introduced a statutory three-tier grievance redressal mechanism. Complaints are first addressed by the broadcaster, then by self-regulatory bodies formed by broadcasters, and finally by an oversight mechanism under the Central Government.
The Ministry clarified that it intervenes only at the third tier, while the first two levels are handled by broadcasters and their respective self-regulatory bodies. The same statutory framework applies uniformly to national, regional and local channels, the Minister added.
