On October 26, NDTV reported that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has been discussing a law for the regulation of content on streaming platforms. The options under discussion include amending the Cinematograph Act, 1952, or the Information Technology Act, 2000, or introducing an entirely new law. Several discussions have been held between MIB and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), NDTV reported. MediaNama could not find any publicly available drafts yet.

Officials described a proposed three-tier structure involving self-regulation, grievance redressal and government oversight, similar to the framework established under the IT Rules, 2021. In August 2021, the Bombay High Court stayed the operation of Rules 9(1) and 9(3), which concerned adherence to the Code of Ethics and the associated oversight mechanism, as they were found to be prima facie beyond the IT Act’s scope. These applied to both streaming platforms and digital news publishers. Incorporating these provisions into legislation could address some of the legal grounds on which the court stayed the rules.

What did the officials say?

According to the NDTV report:

  • The MIB has received more than 1,000 representations seeking greater oversight of streaming content each month over the past six months, according to the officials. These representations reportedly prompted the discussions. “The representations include asking for regulation on the basis of obscenity, vulgarity, among others,” an official told NDTV.
  • While the Cinematograph Act governs certification of films for public exhibition, streaming platforms are subject to a separate regulatory framework under the IT Rules, 2021, whose relevant provisions have faced legal challenges. Therefore, amending them is an option being considered, as mentioned earlier.
  • The prevailing view is that self-regulation should remain the primary mechanism, followed by grievance redressal and, if necessary, ministerial intervention.

According to NDTV, a parliamentary committee had also flagged these regulatory gaps in March 2026. MediaNama has not independently verified the officials’ account.

What already exists, and what a court stayed

Part III of the IT Rules, 2021, as administered by MIB, regulates streaming platforms currently alongside a Code of Ethics. This Code is for publishers of “online curated content“, and mandates titles to be classified into five age categories (U, U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+ and A) by the platforms. Parental locks are to be offered for content which is rated U/A 13+ and above, as well as age verification for adult content.

Part III of the IT Rules, 2021, also provides for a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism:

  1. Complaints must be addressed by the platform’s grievance officer within 15 days,
  2. A self-regulatory body at the second level,
  3. Governmental oversight mechanism, including an Inter-Departmental Committee, at the third level.

The Digital Publishers Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), run under the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), is included in the industry’s self-regulatory bodies.

The Supreme Court, in May 2022, paused these proceedings of the High Court on the IT Rules while considering the Centre’s request for a transfer of the cases. The High Courts’ interim orders were not stayed by the Supreme Court, The Wire reported.

Five years of attempts to regulate streaming content

The Centre has discussed tightening oversight of OTT platforms since before the IT Rules were notified in 2021:

  • February 2021: the Centre informed the Supreme Court that “some action” was being contemplated by it for regulation of streaming platforms, Scroll reported. Weeks later, the court said the government’s OTT guidelines lacked teeth, The Hindu reported.
  • November 2023: MIB then released a draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill which brought streaming services under a new regulatory regime altogether, and included content evaluation committees too, MediaNama reported.
  • July-August 2024: a second draft was circulated to select stakeholders, then recalled after a backlash from digital news bodies, content creators and opposition parties, MediaNama reported.
  • July 2025: MIB blocked 25 streaming apps, including Ullu and ALTT, for obscene content, using its existing powers, MediaNama reported.

The latest discussions appear to revisit a question raised in 2021: What legal authority does the government have to oversee content on streaming platforms?

What MediaNama has asked

MIB:

  • How many representations about streaming content has MIB received each month in 2026, and on what grounds?
  • Is MIB considering amendments to the Cinematograph Act or the IT Act, or a separate law, and has any draft been prepared?
  • What is MIB’s understanding of the current status of the Bombay High Court’s stay on Rules 9(1) and 9(3)?
  • How many complaints about streaming content has the Inter-Departmental Committee examined since 2021?

IAMAI and DPCGC:

  • How many complaints has DPCGC received in 2026, and how many were decided within its own timelines?
  • Has the government consulted IAMAI or its members on new legislation for streaming content?

This story will be updated with their responses.

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