On December 17, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an office order effective immediately, appointing Shri Manish Shiva Zole, Deputy Director (PIB), as Chief of Media & Communications (CMC). This appointment follows the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting D.O. No. M-20011/10/2025- Press dated 12.11.2025.
The CMC will act as the Single Point of Contact for media engagements and information dissemination across print, TV, radio, digital media, and other platforms. The CMC will report directly to the Secretary (MeitY) and coordinate with AS/JS/GC handling Information, Education, and Communication (IEC). All divisions of MeitY must route their media plans through the CMC. MeitY will cover TA/DA and working arrangement expenses for the CMC as per entitlement.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) letter dated November 12, 2025, reference D.O. No. M-20011/10/2025-Press from Secretary Sanjay Jaju, outlines the role of the CMC as the senior-most PIB officer in each Ministry/Department, responsible for media engagement and information dissemination across various media. The letter requests Secretaries to provide office space and support staff for the CMC, ensure the CMC reports directly to the Secretary and coordinates with AS/JS on IEC matters, and directs all divisions to route media plans through the CMC. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is enclosed detailing the roles and duties of the CMC.
The SOP outlines the responsibilities of the CMC, which include, conceptualising, planning, and release of funds for paid and unpaid media campaigns. Responsibilities include developing and executing media plans coordinating with the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) for media plan preparation and execution, and managing creative content production. The CMC advises Ministries on communication campaigns, drafts press releases, coordinates with research units for accurate information, and organizes press conferences and media interactions. It maintains media liaison, responds to media queries, ensures balanced coverage of Government initiatives, and coordinates the publication of Op-Eds.
The CMC is responsible for fact-checking, preparing media plans for events, conducting press tours, monitoring media coverage, and coordinating with other agencies, including the Ministry's Media Cell, Doordarshan News, All India Radio, and other I&B media units. The CMC supervises support staff, manages logistics, maintains contact databases, coordinates budget planning for IEC activities, and ensures that 40% of Advertisement & Publicity funds are placed with the Ministry of I&B per DoE OM No. 7/53/2019-BA dated 30.04.2025. The CMC is to be supported by a team of officials from the client Ministry and will have an office within that Ministry, with all files related to IEC and 'Advertisement & Publicity' routed through the CMC.
**Contact Information:**
* **Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting:** secy.inb@nic.in, Phone: 011-23383393
**File References:**
* Ministry of I&B letter: File No. A-19014/7/2025-HR Section
Key Entities Referenced
Chief of Media & Communications (CMC): Single point of contact for all matters relating to media engagements and information dissemination in each ministry.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY): Government ministry where the CMC is appointed to handle media and communications.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The ministry that initiated the process of streamlining communication by PIB officers and establishing the CMC role.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Document outlining the roles and duties of the Chief of Media & Communications (CMC) in executing paid and unpaid campaigns.
Press Information Bureau (PIB): Organization from which officers are drawn to become CMCs in various ministries.