**Executive Summary**
This is a response by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting to Unstarred Question No. 849 raised in Lok Sabha, regarding the investigation into alleged TRP manipulation by regional news channels. The Ministry is awaiting reports from the DGP, Kerala Police, and BARC regarding their respective investigations. The document also addresses amendments to the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, with a revised draft published on November 6, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **TRP Manipulation Allegations:**
* The Ministry is aware of media reports alleging TRP manipulation by a television channel through bribing a BARC employee.
* A preliminary report was requested from the DGP, Kerala Police, detailing action taken on the FIR filed. This report is still awaited.
* **Investigation Status:**
* The Kerala Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case.
* BARC has initiated a forensic investigation; the report is still awaited.
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* Uplinking and downlinking permissions are governed by Policy Guidelines dated November 9, 2022.
* Television ratings are governed by the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014.
* **Policy Amendment:**
* A draft amendment to the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014, was published on July 2, 2025, for public consultation.
* A revised draft amendment was published on November 6, 2025, aiming for fair competition, accurate data, and a TRP system reflecting diverse media consumption habits.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Kerala Police**
* **Impact:** Expected to provide a preliminary report on the TRP manipulation case, including details of action taken on the FIR.
* **Action Required:** Expedite the completion and submission of the requested report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
**Stakeholder: BARC India**
* **Impact:** Expected to provide a report on the forensic audit regarding the conduct of senior personnel involved in the alleged TRP manipulation.
* **Action Required:** Expedite the completion and submission of the forensic audit report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
**Stakeholder: Television Channels/Rating Agencies**
* **Impact:** Subject to ongoing investigation and potential changes to Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies.
* **Action Required:** Monitor updates on the policy amendments and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
**Stakeholder: Public**
* **Impact:** The proposed amendments aim to enable fair competition and generate more accurate and representative data so that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers.
* **Action Required:** None.
Key Entities Referenced
Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014: Guidelines governing television ratings in India. Referenced in the context of investigating TRP manipulation.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The government ministry responsible for the policy guidelines on television rating agencies and uplinking/downlinking of channels.
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India: Organization responsible for television audience measurement in India, implicated in the TRP manipulation scandal.
Kerala Police: The state police investigating the TRP manipulation scandal.
Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels dated 09.11.2022: Guidelines governing the uplinking and downlinking of television channels.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.849
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026)
STATUS OF INVESTIGATION INTO TRP MANIPULATION BY REGIONAL NEWS
CHANNELS.
849. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received the preliminary report sought from the Director
General of Police, Kerala regarding the investigation into the alleged TRP manipulation
scandal involving a BARC employee and a regional news channel of Kerala;
(b) if so, the details of the findings of Kerala Police;
(c) the status of the forensic audit initiated by BARC India through an independent agency into
the conduct of its Senior Personnel involved in this case;
(d) whether the Government has initiated any proceedings to suspend or revoke the uplinking
and downlinking permissions of the channel in question under the Policy Guidelines for
Television Rating Agencies, 2014 in light of the severity of the fraud allegations; and
(e) the timeline for the final notification of the amendments to the Policy Guidelines for
Television Rating Agencies for which a revised draft was published on November 6, 2025
to prevent such systemic vulnerabilities in the future?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN):
(a) to (e): The Ministry has taken note of the recent media reports alleging that a television
channel was engaged in manipulation of television ratings by bribing an employee of the M/s
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.
In view of the allegations, a preliminary report, including details of action taken on the FIR
reportedly filed in the matter, was sought from the DGP, Kerala Police. The report is still
awaited.The Kerala Police department has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for
investigating the case. BARC informed Government that it has initiated forensic investigation.
The report from BARC is still awaited.
Uplinking and downlinking permissions are governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking
and Downlinking of Television Channels dated 09.11.2022.
Television ratings in India are governed by the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating
Agencies, 2014. On 02.07.2025, the Government published a draft amendment to these
guidelines for public consultations. Proposed amendments aim to enable fair competition,
generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system reflects the
diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers from across the country. After
examining the inputs, a revised draft amendment has been further published on 06.11.2025 for
public consultation.
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