On 17.12.2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an office order, referencing Ministry of Information and Broadcasting D.O. No. M-20011/10/2025-Press dated 12.11.2025, appointing Shri Manish Shiva Zole, Deputy Director (PIB), as Chief of Media & Communications (CMC) for MeitY. The CMC will serve as the Single Point of Contact for media engagements and information dissemination across all media platforms and will report directly to Secretary (MeitY), coordinating with AS/JS/GC on IEC matters. All MeitY Divisions are to route their media plans through the CMC. Expenditure on TA/DA and other working arrangements will be borne by MeitY.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, via D.O. No. M-20011/10/2025-Press dated November 12th, 2025, outlines steps to streamline communication, designating a PIB officer in each Ministry/Department as a single point of contact, titled "Chief of Media & Communications (CMC)". The CMC is responsible for all media engagements and information dissemination. Adequate office space and support staff should be provided to the CMC, who will report directly to the Secretary and coordinate with AS/JS on IEC matters. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) details the roles and duties of the CMC, including planning and releasing funds for paid and unpaid campaigns, media plan execution, creative development, campaign strategy, drafting press releases, organizing press conferences, media liaison, publishing Op-Eds, fact-checking, media plans for events, conducting press tours, monitoring & feedback, and inter-agency coordination. Administratively, the CMC will supervise staff, manage correspondence, and maintain contact databases. In terms of budget, the CMC will coordinate with the client Ministry, placing 40% of advertisement funds with the Ministry of I&B. The CMC shall have an office in the client Ministry, and files related to IEC and 'Advertisement & Publicity' shall be routed through him.
Key Entities Referenced
Chief of Media & Communications (CMC): A single point of contact within each ministry/department responsible for media engagements and information dissemination.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY): The ministry for which the first CMC is appointed, and whose activities and initiatives will be routed through the CMC.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The ministry initiating the CMC program across various Ministries/Departments.
Press Information Bureau (PIB): PIB officers are appointed as CMC in each ministry/department.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC): The type of activities for which the CMC is responsible for coordinating.