New Delhi, July 22: The Government has released the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026 to consolidate the various Guidelines issued for Television and Radio services, within the framework of the newly enacted Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The following Guidelines have been integrated into this set of rules: (1) Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Satellite Television Channels in India; (2) Guidelines for obtaining a license to provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) Broadcasting Services in India; (3) Guidelines for providing Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) Broadcasting Services in India; (4) Policy Guidelines on Expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting Services through Private Agencies (Phase III); (5) Revised Policy Guidelines for setting up Community Radio Stations in India; and (6) Guidelines for provisioning of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Services.
With this set of rules, the industry will now have a unified and significantly simplified rule book. These rules are designed to harmonize the existing regime while promoting ease of doing business in the Television and Radio broadcasting sector. The draft rules have been published on the website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ( inviting inputs, comments or suggestions by the 27th July 2026.
To support industry transition to new regulatory framework, the draft rules provide for voluntary migration of existing licenses/permission to the new authorisation framework or continuation of existing licences/permission until migration.
The draft rules contain provisions to improve availability of Television and Radio services, including community radio services, across the country, including remote and rural areas of Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh.
This information was provided by Union Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw to a starred question in the Lok Sabha raised by Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal and Dineshbhai Makwana.
