Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's approach to regulating OTT platforms while safeguarding creative freedom, addressing content-related grievances, ensuring transparency in government advertising, and supporting the growth of the AVGCXR sector. Key initiatives include the IT Rules, 2021 for OTT regulation, grievance redressal mechanisms, policy guidelines for government advertising, and the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT). The National AVGCXR Task Force laid down the strategic roadmap for the promotion of the AVGCXR sector.
Key Points / Main Content:
OTT Platform Regulation and Creative Freedom:
* Creative freedom is protected under Article 19 of the Constitution.
* The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, regulate OTT platforms.
* OTT platforms must not transmit content prohibited by law.
* The government has blocked 43 OTT platforms for obscene content.
Grievance Redressal Mechanism:
* A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism is in place: self-regulation by publishers, self-regulation by self-regulating bodies, and government oversight.
* Complaints are forwarded to OTT platforms for resolution under the IT Rules, 2021.
Government Advertising:
* The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) issues government advertisements across various media.
* Detailed policy guidelines are in place for print, audiovisual, digital, and outdoor publicity, available on the CBC website.
Promotion of AVGCXR Sector:
* The government recognizes the AVGCXR sector as a core component of India’s creative ecosystem.
* The National AVGCXR Task Force was constituted in April 2022 to lay down the strategic roadmap for the sector's promotion.
* The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 was held in Mumbai from May 1st to 4th.
* The Create in India Challenge is a nationwide creative talent hunt with over 1 lakh registrations.
* The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) has been established with a budget of Rs 392.85 Cr, modelled on IITs and IIMs.
* IICT has signed MoUs with major global companies and offers specialized courses in Gaming, Post Production, Animation, Comics and XR. Details are available on the website https:theiict.in.
Impact Analysis:
OTT Platforms:
* Impact: Must adhere to the IT Rules, 2021, including content restrictions and participation in the grievance redressal mechanism.
* Action Required: Implement self-regulation measures and address complaints as per the IT Rules, 2021.
Digital News Publishers:
* Impact: Subject to the Code of Ethics under the IT Rules, 2021.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and participate in the grievance redressal mechanism.
Citizens:
* Impact: Benefit from a structured mechanism for addressing grievances related to online content.
* Action Required: Utilize the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to report objectionable content.
AVGCXR Sector Stakeholders (Animators, VFX Artists, Game Developers, Comic Creators):
* Impact: Beneficiaries of government support through initiatives like WAVES, Create in India Challenge, and the establishment of IICT.
* Action Required: Participate in government initiatives, leverage training opportunities at IICT, and contribute to the growth of the Indian creative ecosystem.
Media Outlets:
* Impact: Subject to CBC's policy guidelines for government advertising allocation.
* Action Required: Follow CBC guidelines to be eligible for government advertising budgets.
Key Entities Referenced
OTT platforms: Over-the-top media service platforms, which are the subject of regulation discussed in the document.
Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021: A set of rules notified by the Government to regulate digital media, including OTT platforms.
IT Act, 2000: The Information Technology Act, 2000, under which the IT Rules, 2021 were notified.
Central Bureau of Communication CBC: The agency responsible for issuing government advertisements across various media platforms.
AVGCXR: Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality sector, which the Government is supporting for growth and global competitiveness.
National AVGCXR Task Force: A task force constituted in April 2022 to create a strategic roadmap for the promotion of the AVGCXR sector.
World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025: An event held in Mumbai to position India as a global hub for media and entertainment.
Indian Institute of Creative Technologies IICT: An institute established to provide advanced training in AVGCXR domains.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *252
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
REGULATION OF OTT PLATFORMS
*252. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the Government plans to balance the regulation of OTT platforms with the need
to safeguard creative freedom;
(b) the details of frameworks put in place to handle grievances related to content;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation of
Government advertising budgets among various media outlets; and
(d) the details of policies adopted to support the growth and global competitiveness of India’s
Animation, Visual effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector including incentives for investment
and skill development?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS &
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *252 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025 ON REGULATION OF OTT
PLATFORMS
Creative freedom and OTT regulation:
Freedom of expression including creative freedom is protected under Article 19 of the Constitution.
To address the negative effects of harmful content on OTT platforms, Government has notified the
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on
25.02.2021 under IT Act, 2000.
● Part-III of the rules provides for a Code of Ethics for digital news publishers and publishers of online
curated content (OTT platforms).
● OTT platforms are under obligation not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law for the
time being in force.
These rules further provide a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism as follows:
Level I: Self-regulation by the publishers
Level II: Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the publishers
Level III - Oversight mechanism by the Central Government
Complaints received by the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned OTT platforms for resolution as per IT
Rules, 2021.
Following due consultations with relevant Ministries, Government has blocked 43 OTT platforms for
displaying obscene content.
Government advertisements:
Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) issues advertisements of Government of India across various
media platforms, including newspapers, TV/radio, outdoor, digital media, etc.To ensure wide coverage of intended message, detailed policy guidelines have been issued in respect of
various media such as print, audio-visual, digital, outdoor publicity, etc. These guidelines are available on
the CBC website cbcindia.gov.in.
Promotion of AVGC-XR sector:
AVGC-XR includes Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality Sector.
Government of India recognises the AVGC-XR sector as a one of the core component of India’s creative
ecosystem. A National AVGC‑XR Task Force, constituted in April 2022 has laid down the strategic
roadmap for promotion of the sector.
Important initiatives of Government for AVGC sector are as follows:
World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025
● Held in Mumbai from 1st to 4th May 2025 to position India as a global hub for media and
entertainment.
● Create in India Challenge: A nationwide next-generation creative talent hunt across 34 creative
categories like animation, gaming, AR/VR and music. It attracted over 1 lakh registrations from
creators from around the world.
● Featured initiatives such as WAVES Bazaar, WaveX accelerator connecting creators to investors &
enabling wider access to markets and mentorship.
● Provided masterclasses and mentorships in storytelling, AI, XR, and digital content creation.
Establishment of Indian Institute of Creative Technologies
IICT has been established as a premier institute for the creative technologies, focusing on industry-oriented
curriculum and global best practices.
● Rs 392.85 Cr has been allocated for the development and operations of IICT.
● IICT is modelled on the lines of IITs and IIMs, for creative technologies.● It has signed MoUs with major global companies including Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Microsoft,
Apple, Adobe, WPP, etc. for academic collaboration
● IICT provides advanced training for professionals and trainers in AVGC-XR domains.
● The inaugural academic offering includes four specialized courses in Gaming, four courses in Post
Production and nine courses in Animation, Comics and XR.
● Further details are available on the website https://theiict.in.
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