Introduction-
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Ministry of I&B) is one of the earliest ministries that was set up after India’s independence. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was India’s first minister for Information and Broadcasting. The current minister of I&B is Shri Prakash Javadekar. It has its headquarters in New Delhi.
This ministry of Information and Broadcasting is one of the most important ministries set up by the government which looks after the rules, regulations, frameworks and policies of the different mediums of mass communication like press, print media, films, radio, social media, publicly printed posters, etc. The ministry also looks after the private sector broadcasting, administers the public broadcasting service – Prasar Bharti, multi-media advertising and publicity of the programmes as well as policies of the Union Government, film promotions and certification and regulation of print media.
The ministry of Information and Broadcasting is divided into three wings: a) Information Wing, b) Broadcasting Wing, c) Films Wing.
A) Information Wing-
The Information Wing of this ministry has been requisitioned with the task of publishing of all the information, communication and education of different numerous government policies and programmes via different media units. It also undertakes the core management of Indian Information service, Policy formulation and administration, Policy Planning and Co-ordination along with multiple media units and autonomous institutions of the ministry.
Information Wing plays a very important role in disseminating of information of policies on Government initiatives through various modes of communication and incorporating various media campaigns for better outreach and impact to the public. The media units under Information Wing are:
1) Bureau of Outreach and Communication
2) Electronic Media Monitoring Centre
3) Indian Institute of Mass Communication
4) New Media Wing
5) Press Council of India
6) Press Information Bureau
7) Publications Division
8) Registrar of Newspapers for India
B) Broadcasting Wing-
The Broadcasting Wing is one of the most important wings of this ministry. This wing looks after the matters related to the content of private satellite TV channels which is then transmitted through cable television networks with respect to Programme and Advertisement Codes as given in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1955 and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed there under as well as Community Radio Stations and Private FM Radio channels as per GOPA guidelines and AIR Broadcast Code. Every broadcaster is mandated to follow all the guidelines of programmes and code of advertisement as been prescribed by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1955 and rules framed thereunder.
The Broadcasting wing also focuses of other important objectives like granting licenses to up linking / downlinking of TV channels, up linking facility by a news agency, permission to use SNGs/ DSNGs and related regulatory aspects as per the up linking/ downlinking guidelines framed in 2011 which is amended from time to time.
It also provides guidelines for the satellite cables like DTH, frames policies regarding Sports Networks Channels, grants permission to declare the sports/ games of national importance and to be broadcasted on the channels as per the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007 in consultations with ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Law and Justice along with Prasar Bharti.
To provide systematic, effective and transparent administration for the growth and management of Broadcasting Sector, an online portal named “Broadcast Seva” had been developed and launched on the 12th of May, 2017. The Broadcast Seva portal provides single point facilities to multiple stakeholders and applicants for various permissions, registrations, licences etc. issued by MIB for broadcast related activities.
C) Films Wing-
All the matters pertaining to films is considered by the Films Wing like promotion of the films, approval or discarding of the content of films, to grant shooting of a film, sanctioning of the films, looking after organization of International Film Festivals of India and other national and international film festivals and holding of the National Film Awards is done by the Films Wing.
There are various organisations under the Films Wing that carry out the above-mentioned activities like:
1) Central Board of Film Certification
2) Children’s Film Society India
3) Directorate of Films Festivals
4) Film and Television Institute of India
5) Film Certification Appellate Tribunal
6) Film Facilitation Office
7) Films Division
8) National Films Archives of India
9) National Film Development Corporation
10) Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata
Case law-
Name of the judgement- Union of India & Anr. vs Sanjay Kumar & Ors.
Date of judgement- 7th September, 2010.
Citation- W.P.(C) NO.2071/2007
Bench- Hon'ble Mr. Justice Pradeep Nandrajog
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mool Chand Garg
Summary–
In this case, the question arose whether the Civil Servants under the Union of India in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting were to be treated as on deputation with Prasar Bharti. The Central Government employees of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting did not choose for service under Prasar Bharti and negotiations were conducted between the Management and the Union to break the impasse. Prasar Bharti decided that employees of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting working under it, on permanent absorption under Prasar Bharti would be given wages in the higher scale as against the scale which was their entitlement as employees of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
The employees of the CG working in the Ministry of I&B who were not opting for service under Prasar Bharti and by way of incentive were given a higher pay scale. There were three categories of employees. The factual and legal basis of the claim for parity urged by the three categories of employees.
Category 1 consisted of the casual employees who were for long under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting claimed that there was a policy framed by the Central Government to regularize their services in a phased manner and this right ensured in their favour when Prasar Bharti was constituted on 15.9.1997. Merely because they acquired status as regular employees under Prasar Bharti was no ground to justify they being placed in the higher scale.
Whereas, employees in Category-II the argument of said employees was that the appointment process commenced when the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting invited applications from eligible candidates and the select list was prepared by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Their names found mention in the select list drawn much prior to 15.9.1997. But for the fortuitous fact that character verification of some was completed prior to 15.9.1997 while for them was completed post 15.9.1997 thereby resulting in some being given letters of appointment by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Prasar Bharti would not entitle them of being in the higher pay scale. In other words, the petitioners urged that erstwhile employees of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting formed a separate category vis-à- vis those who were appointed by Prasar Bharti.
Conclusion-
There has been a tremendous progress in the field of media and entertainment since the past 5 years due to the efficient working of this ministry. These advantages observed by India are:
i) There has been a huge demand with the rapidly growing young population and increased technology coupled with 3G, 4G and portable devices.
ii) The Indian Media and Entertainment industry is expected to reach nearly Rs 3. 07 lakh crore (US$ 49.93 billion) by 2024.
iii) From April 2000 to March 2020, FDI inflow in information and broadcasting sector (including print media) reached US$ 9.20 billion.
iv) India ranks 15th in the world in the music industry and is expected to enter the top 10 by 2022.
v) India’s advertising agency is projected to be the second fastest growing advertising market in Asia.
Thus, this ministry of Information and Broadcasting has thus been implemented to promote good and valuable cinema to the public, to be recognized globally for quality film and media content, adopt a proper system of ‘ratings’ and to act on it accordingly, make India the hub for animation, gaming and VFX, avoid piracy of videos and promote originality, to promote Government flagship events directly to the beneficiaries and have a transparent decision making process to ensure smooth functioning of the ministry.
References:
2. http://broadcastseva.gov.in/
3. https://www.india.gov.in/topics/information-broadcasting
4. https://www.ibef.org/industry/media-entertainment-india.aspx
Shivani Patki
