Centre Proposes Unified Broadcasting Rules for TV and Radio Services

The Government of India has released the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules of 2026 and it proposed the common regulatory framework for all television and radio broadcasting services in the country. The draft rules were issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on 12th of June, 2026 and issued under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

What Are the New Broadcasting Rules?

The draft Telecommunications Rules, 2026 aim to replace the multiple guidelines that currently govern the television and radio broadcasting separately.

The proposed rules creates the unified regulatory structure under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. They clearly define the obligations for broadcasters while maintaining provisions related to the public service content.

Television channels will be required to broadcast at least 30 minutes of the public-interest content daily while the private FM radio stations must dedicate one hour every day to the similar programming.

The government has also invited the stakeholder comments and suggestions on the draft rules until July 27, 2026.

Key Highlights of the Draft Broadcasting Rules 2026

Single regulatory framework for the television and radio broadcasting services.
It introduced under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
TV channels must broadcast at least 30 minutes of the public-interest content daily.
Public-interest content must air between 6 AM and 11 PM in a day.
Private FM radio stations must broadcast one hour of the public-interest programming every day.
Have to put focus on themes of the national importance and social relevance.
Private FM stations still cannot independently broadcast the news bulletins.

Why Has the Government Introduced These Rules?

India’s television and radio sectors currently operates under the various guidelines issued over the different periods which includes the provisions under the colonial-era Telegraph Act, 1885.

With the enactment of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the government is attempting to consolidate these fragmented regulations into the single modern framework.

The objective is to reduce the regulatory complexity while ensuring broadcasters contribute to public awareness, education and nation-building.

The proposed rules also provides the greater clarity on the duration and nature of the public-interest content that broadcasters must air.

What is Public Interest Programming?

The draft rules has retain the several important themes that broadcasters must cover through their public-interest programming.

These includes the,

Education and literacy
Agriculture and rural development
Health and family welfare
Science and technology
Women’s welfare
Welfare of weaker sections
Environmental protection
Cultural heritage preservation
National integration

The government believes that these topics plays the critical role in spreading awareness and supporting social development.

What Changes for Television Channels?

Television broadcasters were already required to air content related to the national importance under the 2022 Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines.

However, those guidelines did not specify any minimum daily time slot.

The new draft rules address this gap by mandating the,

Minimum 30 minutes of the public-interest programming daily.
Have to broadcast between 6 AM and 11 PM.
Mandatory public service via broadcasting obligations.

What Changes for Private FM Radio Stations?

Private FM radio operators will experience the more significant regulatory change.

Under the earlier FM Phase-III Policy, stations were required to air the public-interest announcements as directed by the government.

The draft rules replace this provision with the clearer obligation to broadcast one hour of programs that are related to national importance and social relevance every day.

Private FM stations will still be prohibited from the independently producing and broadcasting the any news content.

They can continue to air only unaltered news bulletins from the Akashwani and specific informational content such as the,