The Centre has issued draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026, which consolidate television and radio guidelines under a single regulatory framework. According to reports from Business Standard, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the draft rules have been issued to bring multiple broadcasting guidelines under a unified regulatory framework. The minister clarified that the draft rules consolidate multiple policy frameworks governing television and radio broadcasting into a single regulatory architecture designed to simplify compliance and improve ease of doing business. "The industry will now have a unified and significantly simplified rule book," the minister said, adding that the rules seek to harmonise the existing regulatory regime while bringing it under the ambit of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
Existing television and radio licensees will be allowed to voluntarily migrate to the new authorisation framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, or continue under their existing licences until they choose to shift. As reported by Business Standard, the draft rules provide for voluntary migration of existing licenses/permissions to the new authorisation framework or continuation of existing licences/permissions until migration. According to Vaishnaw's parliamentary statement, existing broadcasters and service providers will not be required to immediately shift to the new regime. Instead, the draft rules provide for phased transition, allowing current licence holders either to transition to the new authorisation framework or continue operating under their existing licences until they choose to migrate. This approach supports industry transition to the new regulatory framework and addresses key concerns among television broadcasters, DTH operators, FM radio companies and IPTV providers over business continuity during the regulatory overhaul.
The draft rules consolidate guidelines governing satellite television channels, Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) broadcasting, private FM radio, community radio stations and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services under the framework of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. According to the minister's statement, the unified rulebook is intended to simplify the regulatory framework and harmonise the existing regime while promoting ease of doing business in the television and radio broadcasting sector. The proposed framework merges six separate sets of guidelines covering satellite television uplinking and downlinking, Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) platforms, private FM radio, community radio stations and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services. This comprehensive consolidation represents one of the first major sector-specific regulations to be framed under the new Telecommunications Act, 2023, which replaced the colonial-era Indian Telegraph Act.
The government has published the draft rules on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's website for public consultation. As reported by Business Standard, stakeholders can submit inputs, comments and suggestions until July 27, 2026. The government also stated that the draft rules include provisions to improve the availability of television and radio services, including community radio, across the country, including in remote and rural areas such as Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh. According to Vaishnaw's statement, the framework contains provisions that would improve broadcasting services in districts such as Chhindwara, with particular focus on expanding access in remote and rural areas. The Ministry has invited comments from stakeholders on the draft rules until July 27, after which it is expected to finalise the regulations following consultations with industry participants.
