Draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026: Unified Regulatory Framework for Broadcasters

Key facts

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) released the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026, to bring television channels, radio stations, DTH operators, and other broadcasting services under a single regulatory framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
• The proposed rules consolidate six existing policy frameworks covering television channels, DTH services, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) operators, private FM radio, community radio, and IPTV services into one harmonised set of rules.
• Television channels must air at least 30 minutes of daily content on education, health, agriculture, science, environmental protection, and national integration, while private FM radio stations must broadcast at least one hour of programming on national importance and social relevance.
• Radio stations are required to ensure at least 20% of daily programming is local content, with authorisations valid for 10 years for TV channels, DTH operators, teleports, and community radio, 15 years for private FM radio, and 20 years for DTH and HITS distribution services.
• Broadcasters seeking renewal must have committed no more than five violations of programme and advertising codes, and any change in ownership resulting in a change of control or management requires prior government approval.